Lord Jesus, help us to know how sacred is life.
Unexpected mysteries hiding around corners.
Moments of glory waiting along the path.
Oases of silence, listening for Your voice.
Exuberant joy in loud, sticky messes.
You are in, through, above, and below it all, surrounding and filling.
Help us to know You, see You, hear You today.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
The Shack
Since The Shack seems to be such an item of conversation recently, I thought I'd better read it. My thoughts, while not fully formed, are quite in agreement with much of what this reviewer says in his five creatively different reviews.
When I read the New Testament book of John several months ago I didn't get much from it. Then as I have been reading it these last two weeks, I can't seem to get through it, for fear of missing something. What is the difference? It is the same words as before; the same translation. Humm I must contemplate this delima. I think it is perspective. Not everyone will like the book The Shack and that's ok. As a man I had some trouble with it to. But reading on I couldn't help the emotion bursting to the surface of my soul. For those who have had their lives changed, their perspective of who God really is, praise be to the Lord our God! Reading through the book some of my stuff, shameful stuff, hidden in my shack was reveled. Like so many others who have read the book I have for the first time in all my years, discovered the real unconditional love God has for me. I have heard so many sermons, studied plenty of great biblical teachings and should have got it. Why was it that this book did it for me I don't really know. I suppose it was me. I can see that God put many great things out there for me to learn from and I did get a little from this and a little from that but the book The Shack hit me at a time of my greatest need and I didn't even know I had need! How sad it is that some will be confused by the book. For those I pray they will find some avenue along the way to mend their pain. I pray the book won't be a stumbling block for anyone.
I think I understand how you feel about the book. I really liked parts of it too. I thought they explained certain spiritual realities very well. But many things that were said disturbed me, and because of those (and the confusion they might cause), I do not feel that I could recommend the book. At least not without expressing my concerns.
When I read the New Testament book of John several months ago I didn't get much from it. Then as I have been reading it these last two weeks, I can't seem to get through it, for fear of missing something. What is the difference? It is the same words as before; the same translation. Humm I must contemplate this delima. I think it is perspective.
ReplyDeleteNot everyone will like the book The Shack and that's ok. As a man I had some trouble with it to. But reading on I couldn't help the emotion bursting to the surface of my soul.
For those who have had their lives changed, their perspective of who God really is, praise be to the Lord our God! Reading through the book some of my stuff, shameful stuff, hidden in my shack was reveled. Like so many others who have read the book I have for the first time in all my years, discovered the real unconditional love God has for me. I have heard so many sermons, studied plenty of great biblical teachings and should have got it. Why was it that this book did it for me I don't really know. I suppose it was me. I can see that God put many great things out there for me to learn from and I did get a little from this and a little from that but the book The Shack hit me at a time of my greatest need and I didn't even know I had need! How sad it is that some will be confused by the book. For those I pray they will find some avenue along the way to mend their pain. I pray the book won't be a stumbling block for anyone.
I love you little one.
I think I understand how you feel about the book. I really liked parts of it too. I thought they explained certain spiritual realities very well. But many things that were said disturbed me, and because of those (and the confusion they might cause), I do not feel that I could recommend the book. At least not without expressing my concerns.
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