Lessons at “The Shack”

Every so often someone writes a book that pushes our thinking and focuses the lenses through which we see the world.  The book called “The Shack” has definitely altered the prescription for me.  It seemed like every time I saw someone at the ball field, in a restaurant or sat by someone on a plane they were reading it.  People who knew me kept asking what I thought about the book. For about a month I considered it a passing fad.

Then one day I bought the book and read it in two days.  Once I pushed through the “Great Sadness” and the unusual portrayal of God it began to enliven my thinking and encourage my walk.  In these past weeks I have again wrestled with what it means for God to be judge instead of me, for Jesus to be fully human and fully divine, and for God to graciously and painfully give us free will that results in suffering.  The book shares some controversial perspectives on the Trinity and on how people view the church.

I invite you to join me at “The Shack”, Encounter, for some of the painful and powerful ways we might learn from this book in relation to The Book (The Bible).  Whether it’s a gentle hug or a swift kick every one of us has the potential to find that these next two weeks may be just the visit with “Papa” we need.  If you haven’t picked up a copy of the book yet feel free to get one at the church’s bookstore.

Vaughn