Bill Dahl:::What are People Saying?

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What are People Saying?

"Bill says some very important things, sometimes in a very humorous way, right on target."

- Dr. Tony Campolo, Author & Speaker

"Creative...edgy"

- Charlie Wear - Editor Next-Wave

"Indeed, interesting."

- Abby Wisse - New York Post

"Your commentary is exemplary of the teachings, the real Christianity, promulgated by Christ in the Sermon on the Mount."

- Sal Osio - Publisher & Chief Executive Officer, Hispanic Vista, Los Angeles, CA

"I actually read an entire article by Bill today, resonating and thinking through the concepts and challenges, without knowing it was his until the end. I laughed to see that again I had been sucked into the thin place between here and other worlds by his poetic, crafty way of drawing you in, challenging presuppositions, and calling - no, moving you to wrestle with your own life. Bill will mask himself, relating in a playful, tongue-in-cheek manner, that is disarming. Then he’ll begin challenging you in a way that avoids offence - rare - and then he’ll close in, and make points that bring the church to peer in the mirror and wrestle. I only wish it were required reading for any leader in the 21st century."

- Mike Brantley - Director of CRM in New Zealand, a missional order empowering leaders for the church and the church that needs to emerge.

"I loved the article (The State of the Church 2005). Thank you for truly reflecting on the information we have provided over the years, giving the data context and a call to action. Perhaps more people will listen to your well-crafted thoughts than have heeded my clumsy exhortations. That'd be wonderful!"

- George Barna - Directing Leader - The Barna Group

"I have been brought up and educated in an evangelical, pentecostal environment where evangelism seemed more like a "numbers racket". Over the last several years, God has placed me on a path where I find myself finally questioning the methods & thought processes of the past and embracing new ways of thoughts. Many of my students in this class, and others, are on that same path. Articles, like yours, provide light to see the path we are on and where it might be taking us."

- Christian Jahnsen - Adjunct Professor of Religion, Southeastern University, Lakeland, FL

"Being one who also is 'outside the camp', out of the box, out of
sync...whatever you want to call it...is frustrating in these times of
change within the 'church'. I am surrounded by Christians who are so bored,
disenchanted, confused, disgusted by the focusless, self-centered churches
around us. And many have quit going to church because of it, but would jump
back in again, if only a genuine church sprang up. Keep diving!"

- Pam - Kentucky

"On every reading, your poem strikes my heart (with some pain, I might
add--but it expresses what I've always felt but did not put into words."

- Mrs. Edmonds - Irvine, CA

"Thank you for saying what needs to be said."

- Jim Henderson - Seattle, WA

"Love, love,love your website!! It's is so right on - it's ridiculous!!
Your words and thoughts are a like a breath of fresh air. I hope that
millions of people who are looking for a relationship with God, but are
afraid to seek one out because other "Super Christians" made them feel like
horrible sinners who have already lost their chance for a relationship with
God and Jesus, find your website and are become liberated and closer to
Jesus."

- Amanda - New Jersey, USA

"The Jesus Testimony - I found this to be a challenging, entertaining and yes, disturbing article. Mr. Dahl has done a great service of challenging the thinking that is so easily formed by the talking head politico's on the tube. I would quickly say that immigration is a huge issue in our country, but I love the challenge to fully represent Christ in the solution we develop. Thank you for the slap in the face, man... I needed that."

- Virgil

"I am writing this with tears in my eyes, both from appreciation and a sense of call. My heart says Lord -Is this it??? And my head is screaming Oh, No - This is it!!!! "

- Richard - Key Largo, FL

"After reading The Summit by Bill Dahl, how can my new prayer be anything but Lord give me a bigger cup. Thank you for the challenge Bill. The principle here is so simple and yet so true, the more you share the more you will want to share, and God will share more with you. Prosperity doctrine? No Thank You. Sharing God!! Now that is something we can all get our hearts into."

- Tom Kenyon

"Thankfully I received the email you sent out recently pointing to the latest edition of the PDL so I went to the site and spent some time there. I had to admit, I had not been there in awhile and it's grown and evolved so much since my last visit! I've been struggling with my faith, a relationship and an addiction but felt some hope when I read some of the quotes and articles on PDL. I look forward to spending much more time there!"

- Barbara

What an absolutely dynamite article! It's a keeper! I'm one for whom religion has always raised far more questions than it answers. It's gotten me into a lot of trouble in my 50+ years (doubly so, because I'm a preacher's kid and we're supposed to "set a good example" for everyone else) and even driven me out of the church proper (but not out of my Christian faith, thank God) for years at a time.

I've never been afraid of doubt; rather than being a threat, it's necessary to faith. It's the part of faith that doesn't let it get lazy but keeps it fresh, moving and growing to meet life's changes. That faith in turn is the thing has kept me going when "belief" and "beliefs" have gone straight down the dumper (sometimes for years) and carried me through the many times (and right now is one of them) when I've considered myself "not a believer in the conventional sense of the word." A faith fueled by doubt and the resulting questions has kept me from giving up on the whole "Christianity thing" even in the worst of times.

The Bible says that faith without works is dead; life has taught me that faith without doubt, without questions, is every bit as dead.God bless the questions, and God bless you and your truly prophetic words.

CCW Sparks

I love the way you dance with words. Faith needs more dancing!

Anomalous4

I've been navigating through your site over the past few weeks, and just want to say thanks for what you're doing, it has blessed me deeply.

Jeff Jacobsen

In our small (like 10-12) fellowship, we are all definitely the porpoise diving type. Sometimes I feel like I've run out of words to let these folks know that God loves them even though their lives aren't perfect and they're dealing with divorce and
cancer and financial problems and all kinds of stuff. It was great for them
to hear it from someone else, so thank you again. We are all excited about
your book and look forward to reading and discussing it togther. Blessings

Tony Lowe

In recent weeks, I discovered a very creative website called The Porpoise Diving Life, which has as it's byline: "Reality for the Rest of Us or Picking Up Where Purpose-Driven Peters Out". The site's motif is based around porpoises and pods and other marine metaphors, and is fun to explore.

Bill Dahl is the visionary genius behind this site, and we've had some fun corresponding back and forth. Earlier this week, Bill invited me to participate in an interview for The Porpoise Diving Life, along with interviews with Charlie Wear (editor of Next Wave e-zine), John O'Keefe (the brains behind Ginkworld), and Mike Brantley from New Zealand. Bill decided (as only editors can do) to entitle my interview The Post-Man Cometh.

The Porpoise Diving Life has only been going for a few months (2-9-06), but a lot of people have been really positively impacted by it, and I'm honoured to be included, and am rooting for Bill Dahl and his Pod to bring some thoughtful and encouraging input to the conversation.

Robby Mac

Hi, my husband is blind, I'd like to 'cut and paste' the poem to him (and parts of the web site) so his screen reader can read them to him, is this ok? Thanks.

Fran

"When I read your article (Reality For The Rest Of Us), it just made so much sense and I guess it's just so good to know that we're not alone."

Heidi

Thank you for your poems. They are encouraging and enlightening.

Cathy - Australia

Hi Bill!

I read the poem... Thanks for putting into words what is hard for me to
say. I'm glad thousands of people are reading your works, thanks for
speaking for us, for being our voice. You also, reminded me that I should
be writing, sharing my story, because that's how best we can communicate,
learn about and from one another, and accept and love each other.
Greetings to you and Jackie.

Adriana - So. Cal.

Thanks for writing the poem "Immigrace-un". I love it.

I have been receiving so called "funny" emails about illegal immigrants, but they are not funny to me. I did not know how much was true about how much they are "costing" the U. S., but I could feel the fear and hate that was behind the promulgation of such cartoons. And that was what was bothering me.

Martha - Texas

Thanks for being there, and thanks for what you are doing.

Phil - MA

Bill Dahl - God’s Screenwriter! By Jim Henderson

“For a number of years I’ve been telling people to read the bible as if it were a movie. In his devotional for the discouraged Bill suggests something similar when he asks people to temporarily ignore what Jesus said and instead observe who he hung out with, where he walked and how he seemed to feel about his numerous interactions with ordinary people. Bill playfully transports us into a journey within God’s blue ocean through the life of a porpoise. He masterfully leads us deeper into the heart of God’s reality through the simple act of observing what is happening right in front of all of us. His insights and experience with the discouraged, wounded, curious and marginalized are poignant, humorous and above all very, very real. Bill is one of today’s spiritual revolutionaries who is attempting to rescue Jesus from religion and give him back to everyday people.”

Jim Henderson

Hi Bill,

I came across your web site yesterday, in a roundabout way, and when I had
read a bit I just started to laugh, in a good sense! The freedom was evident!! I 'jumped the curve' 2 years ago and after an initial 'argghhhh!!!!' for a few months, am now really appreciating what the LORD has/is doing in my life. I was the typical church goer for 25 years, in leadership etc etc and thought I had GOD sussed. How wrong was I!! :]

Hey,don't get me wrong, I learned so much in mainstream church and am thankful
for the whole time there. However the LORD is now bringing me back to the
simple/profound Gospel. Fullstop. Nothing added. No cleverness. It's certainly a different journey but one that is very freeing. The old me still sometimes wants attention and man's approval etc. but I'm learning now to recognise that and put it to flight. It hasn't been an easy road but it is a road that is less travelled and can be lonely at times. I have no regrets and am looking forward to the next part of the journey. So I just wanted to say hi and to let you know I felt the fresh breeze that
blows from your web site.

Carol Congalton - New Zealand

Brian McLaren - Author, Speaker, Pastor, Networker

"When I read The Porpoise Diving Life, I loved it. But I've been listening to the audio book version lately, and I love it even more.

"Bill Dahl is such a natural storyteller - the audio book taps into the part of us that comes alive when we hear, "Once upon a time..." As the title suggests, the book takes you to deeper levels than a lot of folks normally go, but in true porpoise fashion, it also takes some delightful leaps into the sunlight, so you're misting up one minute with a profound or poignant insight and then laughing out loud the next with an unexpected twist or delightful surprise. You couldn't have a better companion on your next long drive or jog or restful evening."

Brian McLaren

Tony Jones is the author of The New Christians: Dispatches from the Emergent Frontier and the National Coordinator of Emergent Village

"I'm a huge fan of Bill Dahl! He's a great man, and a wonderful disciple of Jesus. Plus, he's got lots to say to the rest of us who are trying to follow Jesus. So, when it comes to the Porpoise Diving Life, I say: Dive In!"

Tony Jones

By Charlie Wear - Publisher - Next-Wave: Church & Culture

"I love to meet and connect with Jesus-followers, and Bill Dahl is the genuine article. With The Porpoise Diving Life Bill has connected with the real, everyday life of people just like you and me. He teaches us by his own story what it means to live life in Christ, naturally!"

Charles Wear

Jeff Jacobson - founder and president of The Reclamation Project, and the author of So I Go Now: Following after the Jesus of our Day.

"As Seinfeld lovers may remember, George's father became disillusioned with Christmas, so he invented his own holiday -- Festivus. And with it, he created his proud slogan: "Festivus, for the rest of us!"

So, following that same theme, what about us? What about the disillusioned masses who wonder if there really is a Jesus and a simpler faith for the rest of us? It's a relevant question that begs an answer, and in The Porpoise Diving Life, Bill Dahl tackles the subject with the finesse and authority of a cultural bellwether. Through the power and applicability of his marvelous stories, you'll find that Bill is living life and his faith in a beautiful way -- he actually speaks of what he knows, not just what he imagines. And yes, it's true -- you're really not alone in those thoughts you've been having. There is another way!

The audio version of his book is just one more way we can enjoy the power of this unique and creative message. Bill, thank you for letting us in on your little secret: The Porpoise Diving Life. Indeed, there is reality for the rest of us."

Jeff Jacobsen

Jim Palmer
Author of Divine Nobodies and Wide Open Spaces

"There are times on my journey with God when I quietly wonder, "Am I the only one thinking and experiencing this?" And then a book like The Porpoise Diving Life comes around and renews my courage to keep putting one foot in front of the other. If you feel like you have all the answers and the formulas are working for you, you may not be interested in what Bill has to say. But if you are someone who understands we are all a little messed up but desire to fully know God in the midst of the muddle of real life, then please listen to The Porpoise Diving Life. "

Jim Palmer

By Jim Henderson - co-founder and Executive Director of Off The Map and the author of a.k.a. lost – connecting with the people Jesus misses most, and Jim & Casper Go To Church – Frank conversation about faith, churches, and well-meaning Christians. Jim is an innovative thinker and passionately committed to normalizing evangelism for ordinary Christians.

"Bill Dahl - God’s Screenwriter!"

“For a number of years I’ve been telling people to read the bible as if it were a movie. In his devotional for the discouraged Bill suggests something similar when he asks people to temporarily ignore what Jesus said and instead observe who he hung out with, where he walked and how he seemed to feel about his numerous interactions with ordinary people. Bill playfully transports us into a journey within God’s blue ocean through the life of a porpoise. He masterfully leads us deeper into the heart of God’s reality through the simple act of observing what is happening right in front of all of us. His insights and experience with the discouraged, wounded, curious and marginalized are poignant, humorous and above all very, very real. Bill is one of today’s spiritual revolutionaries who is attempting to rescue Jesus from religion and give him back to everyday people.

The Porpoise Diving Life explores what it looks like if we were more interested in being real than in being religious. Human beings want to know two things

1) That I am not alone

2) That I am not stupid (well not the only stupid person)

The Porpoise Diving Life provides a place for you to meet people who understand these feelings and fears and have resigned from religion and are exploring new ways of following Jesus that are real.”

Jim Henderson

Copyright © 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004 and 2003 by William & Jacqueline Dahl. All Rights Reserved. No part of this site may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the writer. All rights reserved. Requests for permission to reproduce or disseminate any part of any material on this site should be mailed to: Bill Dahl P.O. Box 2308 Redmond, OR 97756.

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