If you weren’t at Lupe Tortilla’s for the discussion of Lauren’s book choice “The Shack” by William P. Young you were missed and you missed some good conversation and food.
Kathy was able to join us for the first time in a long time. It was great to have her back and she looked good. And I hope those folks were sick that evening are definitely feeling better by now.
The Shack provoked a lot of conversation. I had heard that you either liked this book or hated it. Keep in mind that this book was not meant to be Biblical it was only the story of one man’s experience. ;o) Everyone present liked the book while they may not have agreed with the whole content. The consences of the group.. the book is about “relationships.”
You know me there are always books that make me dig for more info and this was one of them. The author felt that this book tells you more about him than you could ever read any where else. His life is partly revealed in both characters Willie and Mack and more. His whole life is about the Trinity and guess what “RELATIONSHIPS.” I read his blog , yes a blog to find out that he actually never intended to have the story published. He wrote it for his kids to understand his relationship with God. Mack is not a real person but Mac’s family members resemble William P's own family and friends. In his blog he reveals that the story is fiction but the emotional pain is real. He has a shack and said the conversations are real. William P. lost his 5 year old neice to an accident not a murder.
One of the reasons I think people have trouble with books like this is because they are controlled by their beliefs and have no room for options. If it’s different from what they are taught then it must be wrong.
A few points made in the book hit home with me
1. Forgiving isn’t about forgetting; it’s about letting go of another person’s throat
2. . Even though God can work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedies, it does not mean God caused it. Where there is suffering, you will find grace in many facets and colours.
3. Jesus will travel any road to find his children. But only one road leads back to heaven
4. We say: “Predators deserve judgment, their parents, too, for twisting them, and their parents, and on and on, until finally we go right back to Adam, and then, why not judge God? He started it all…isn’t God to blame for our losses? He could have not created, or he could have stopped the killer, but he didn’t.” If we can judge God so easily then, of course, we can judge the world. We must then (e.g.) choose two of our five children to go to heaven and three to go to hell, because that’s what we believe God does. Mack could not choose any one of his children because he loved them no matter what they did. So instead, he begged that he could go to hell for his children. This response is exactly what Jesus did. Mack judged well. He judged his children worthy of love, even if it cost him everything. This is how Jesus loves. ‘And now we know Papa’s heart.”
5. Mack says: “I just can’t imagine any final outcome that would justify all this (pain, suffering etc).” Papa replies: “We’re not justifying it. We are redeeming it.”
6. The different appearances of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit were used to help Mack break his religious conditioning.
7. You don’t have to worship in group or 4 walls to believe
An excerpt from his blog: So is the story true? The pain, the loss, the grief, the process,
the conversations, the questions, the anger, the longing, the secrets, the lies,
the forgiveness…all real, all true. The story in particular… fiction… but….
Then there is God who emerges so very real and true, unexpected and yet not
unexpected, but surprising and…
So… is all this real? Is all this true? I suppose each of us has to decide for ourselves, don’t we?
Next to choose was Lisa Rhodes and her book choice was “Fifty Shades of Grey” by EL James. Oh boy now this book ought to be interesting to discuss. We’ll tentatively set the meeting date for Thursday June 21st which if 5 weeks out. So get that book and get to reading.. What a book to come after The Shack!
Next to choose will be Lisa Roper then Naomi, Pam or Patrick, Sandy or Susan.
Everyone get your book and get to reading and everyone start thinking about what book you want the group to read because you never know when I might ask you to suggest a book if no one else before you is ready.
Here's the actual blog link but you can click on the title and it will take you to the blog site and you can see the pictures I took.
Your unofficial secretary/photographer
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