by admin | Jul 16, 2008 | Kingdom Comments, Relationship Not Religion!
In January of this year I attended a Writer’s Conference, where I heard over and over that the book, The Shackis great. It was given grandiose ackolades all the way from entertaining, well-written to awesomely inspiring.
At the conference, my ‘poor pitiful’ side emerged and I did feel myself a tiny bit jealous of all those compliments. However, I bought the book. I put it on the bookshelf at home–oh well, I might read it some day–I was politically correct, I bought the book. Until a week ago. I heard about it from so many sources I was forced to read it, to find out what the fuss was all about–then couldn’t put it down.
I enjoyed the conference, learned a lot, spent a lot of time asking myself “why I didn’t do this and why I didn’t do that” in my own writing. I have never thought myself a literary genius or even a good writer. But, I do have a heart and passion to share the things of God with the whole world. And, when I put my relationship, my knowledge and/or experiences with Him, or that of others in a book, I know it is good. I am not looking for prizes or rewards, writing is its’ own reward! I sincerely want to improve; represent Him well; and write in a way that reaches the hearts of my readers to give them hope, help and faith.
I said all that to say this. “That is exactly what The Shack does!” It gives help, hope and faith in a way that I have never been able to do. The story draws you into the story line in such a way, that you are glued to the book and seduced to read each page–as you wipe away the tears, so that you can see to read the next page.
The Shack is a fiction book (I say ‘fiction’ but I have to snicker here because it contains more truth–in my opinion–than most non-fiction books covering the same subjects).
I was cautioned ahead of time that the beginning of the book is sad, and I am grateful for that warning. William Young reveals the details so well, you have to remind yourself it is a story, not to be caught up in the tragedy of it. The gripping, tense part of the book, builds the foundation for the rest of the story. Sissies like me might want to just ‘skim’ some of those details, and give full attention–repeated attention–to the rest of the book.
Someone said, “Everyone gets something different from The Shack.” I am sure that is true. For me, it confirmed what I already believe, with a new and fresh revelation of the character and nature of God. I gave my copy to a friend, who came to visit, before I finished the last two chapters. Went out the next day, bought two more copies, raced home and finished the book!
I am mailing the other copy to my son in Colorado. If the funds were available I would buy one and send it to everyone I know. Well, instead I am sending my wholehearted, enthusiastic endorsement and encouragement to everyone to purchase a copy, read it and feel the joy released in its’ pages.
For those who do not have access to a book store, you can go to www.theshackbook.com
All of life is wrapped up in what we believe about God. What is our purpose and how can we possibly relate to the Creator of the Universe. The Shackis a wonderful stepping stone to understanding God even in the face of the ultimate reality of His supremacy and majesty, sovereignty in all things!
I see the Family of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit as having many facets like beautiful cut jewels. They have so many glorious facets we can never count or see them all while playing in these earth suits. The Shack covers only a couple of these precious facets, but extremely important ones.
The book screams the question: Is God good, real, personal and intimate with His created children? Some find the answers unpalitable (according to some comments on the Internet). I am so grieved for those individuals and for God who has inspired so many to reveal His true character and nature, such as William Paul Young, author of The Shack.
Jesus invites us to answer the door as He knocks to come in and sup with us. (Rev 3:20) I am inviting all who want to dine on even more of His love and goodness, to read The Shack!
by admin | Jul 16, 2008 | Jesus Talk, Kingdom Comments, Politics, Relationship Not Religion!
Last night I had d desire to just ‘veg out’ with something pleasant on TV. As I surfed the channels I found the following:
- Paradise Hotel or Sex In The City! (WOW as a single woman, I don’t need that.)
- News reports of fires, floods, accidents, rape & murder. (Taxing my heart with sorrow for all the victims)
- A movie about a man who kills his friend because he thinks he murdered his daughter only to find out he was wrong. (That was inspiring, Ugh! Thank God I only saw the stupid end; my critics would tell me I just don’t appreciate the great acting job they did–no, I do not, if their message stinks.)
- Then those pitiful but necessary commercials for the suffering children in the world. (That just tear my heart out.)
- Well, I could just watch a simple mystery on Law and Order–wrong again–this one was about someone stealing eggs and sperm out of a lab, where they actually store live embryos as well, and the controversy about freezing or storing them. (Boy, I was already tired, fighting a little depression, I didn’t need that.)
- Oh, good, I found a TV magazine program about troubled children (that should have been a tip, but I continued to watch). It was about children with Tourette’s Syndrome. (I didn’t last too long with this one either; I have such strong spiritual conviction about these ‘syndromes,’ especially that one.
- I tried a 60 Minute program I had pre-recorded, only to watch three handsome young men talk about being gay in the military. And the controversy over “Don’t ask, don’t tell.” (The same ole’ question, how do we love people the way they are and trust God to change them?)
Finally, I turned off the TV and thanked God for my day and all that I have, food, home, clothes, loving dog, precious family, and lots of friends. And, actually went to sleep.
The devil’s agenda is to have people watch all this junk often enough so they become desensitized to the evil that is so evident everywhere. Or there is so much, we just mentally turn it off out of an overwhelming sense of despair. Which I did last night and turned to my Heavenly Father to bring a calm to my soul.
My Bible says where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: (Rom 5:20); When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. (Isaiah 59:19) I believe that ‘standard’ is our prayers, as the Spirit of the Lord in us, moves us to action.
I hear all over the place that this is the end times. Maybe it is, however, Paul said it was the end times 2000 years ago….I sure am not going to rely or worry about that. Jesus asked if there would be faith on the earth when He returned….and somehow I don’t see that every where even though it is growing. Isn’t that a greater concern for us than spending time, energy or thought on whether we are in the ‘end times’?
One argument is that evil is everywhere, earth quakes, floods, etc. so it must be the end. Well, it was just as bad in Paul’s day. Christians were crucified and fed to lions. Israel was in bondage to other countries, and believers had to flee for the lives. Children were sacrificed to Molech, slavery abounded. Through the centuries we have had the same evils that we face now.
- Could any of us solve the problems I listed above?
- Can we solve even one of those problems totally?
- Can God solve those problems?
- What does He need to do that?…He is sovereign!
- Jesus is looking for prayer and faith so that He and the Holy Spirit can direct the warfare–you know–the standard that will overcome.
None of us can pray over all that is wrong; nor can any of us take action against everything. So we can choose to pray what touches our heart the most. That is the Holy Spirit in us and take action as He directs.
Or are we like ‘Chicken Little’ crying “The sky is falling, the sky is falling.” Yep, we can pray as Jesus told us to do….”Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.” Rest (knowing God is all sufficient) in God to use our prayers and direct our actions, and just let Jesus take care of ‘end times’ and His return. None, absolutely none of the problems listed above and those that are not listed are too big for God.
Prayer moves mountains and God loves all His children, so we move and He moves. Sounds like a good solution to me! We are privileged to be part of that Standard.
This is a great time to live as long as we abide in HIM!
by admin | Jul 14, 2008 | Uncategorized
Whoops, did I say ABC Nightline News is a scam….oh, I meant to say “ABC Nightline ‘journalist investigative news is alleged to be a scam! Who is alleging that? I am!
When they reported on the Florida Outpouring–the ‘old time revival’ (as they did say a couple of times) in Lakeland, Florida their investigative reporting made me suck air!
The pretty little Anchor woman that introduced the report was a ‘sourpuss’ and cloaked her words in ‘darkness’ to warn us that this could be ……wooooo….I don’t know what danger she was warning the audience about, unless it was the sad misleading expose’ to follow.
Here we are in a world full of chaos, China with loss of life through earthquakes, war raging in several countries, slavery going unchecked, and sex-slave trade doing well, while here in our country we have unbelievable destructive fires in California, and people homeless from the floods in the mid-west, God forbid we would want to give people hope.
Things are so bad that the Pharasees, oh I mean the media (the experts of our day), are sure that God wouldn’t show up in Florida. And they have a responsibility to warn the public, what might not be happening.
Todd Bentley doesn’t look like ‘the church man’ we are accustomed to…..and therefore we are turned off before we are turned on to what God is doing. We question the man or woman that God wants to use? I just think God will do what he wants to do, and His humor may be to use a man who offends the natural mind and use the supernatural to do it. I would love to see the report they would have given on John The Baptist!
Todd is someone who has turned his life around, sought the Lord day and night for days, months and years. Until the Lord said it was timeand sent him out to other countries of the world. Well received and with great success–many healings and huge crowds of thousands in other countries, Todd went to Florida for just a three day conference….well, God had a different idea. This was definitely not on Todd’s agenda.
Oh, they didn’t report all that on Nightline? Well, it would be hard to dig that out….for an organization as large and resourceful as ABC.
Thousands have found a new understanding and relationship with the Almighty from this revival, all over the world, and hundreds every night at the Florida facility. They didn’t report that either? Well it takes one to know one I guess, and they don’t know about Jesus or relationship with our Heavenly Father. Well, I am sure they will soon as many of us are now praying that their hearts and minds are open to receive the best news ever reported.
Talented, educated investigative reporters could not find a few people out of ten thousand each day, with an exciting story of their healing that they would gladly supply medical back. Oh, they did find a couple of people who didn’t get the healing–but were not even discouraged. That was reported as though the person was a naive unsuspecting victim. Hey, hundreds of us are praying for that man and his child, so it will have the ending that faith-filled father is looking for.
The reporter did find a nice looking Pastor in suit and tie who did not approve of what he saw. How interesting there was no accounting of the hundreds of Pastors in attendance every night from all over the world who know and understand this is a move of God. They come hoping to take this revival back to their own city or country. Nor did they report the 30 or 40 well known Pastors who came one evening to pray for Todd, support this revival and tell the world they believe this is a legitimate move of God.
I really was amused and offended at the woman in a business in Lakeland who didn’t want the revival. Did they talk and interview the motel, hotel owners and operators? Or the restaurants, or the Air Lines? I’d bet money they are happy about the revival. Our country needs any shot to our economy.
Oh yes, money, we sure need to talk about that. There is no charge to attend……guess if this was God He would drop the funds out of heaven so no one would have to give. There is an oxymoron–since we pay for watching ABC TV by buying products of their many sponsors, who pay a fortune for the privilege of partnering with them . But some how people should not partner and support financially the ‘revival’ that they chose to attend?
Todd is the victim in all of this, because he so graciously invited all the press to come, to attend, because I assume he did not imagine that they would distort this move of God, to stir the waters of unbelief.
Nor did our well-paid (speaking of money) reporters, editors, etc. let the world know that this man is a well respected family man.
Todd is not the image of what I would have chosen to represent God to this generation; but that is why we haven’t reached the generations because we stereo-type men and women of God. I am not looking at the tattoos or the dress, only what God is doing. I have seen Todd in person, I have received prayer in his meeting. Never have I ever heard him say he does the healing, rather Jesus is the Healer and he is just his servant. If he did say that he does healing, as they reported, why didn’t they report the hundred of times he gave all credit to Jesus or the Holy Spirit?
I don’t even object to the negative reports if they had just balanced the ‘facts’ with the other side of the picture. God will take care of Todd, and He will bring good out of what was definitely evil.
The Scam is representing Nightline as a news program, instead a story line of what ABC wants the world to see. And, assuming that we the American public are not qualified to make our own conclusions when we receive all the facts.
Carol
