The Shack by W. Paul Young

This is a book that has caused quite a stir in secular and Christian circles. At first, when I heard about this book, I wasn’t even sure I wanted to read it after reading the synopsis:

Mackenzie Allen Philip’s youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later, in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend.

Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack forever.

Now, I believe in God’s power to heal a person’s heartache, but I just wasn’t sure I wanted to read this book. I wasn’t sure if my heart was read for the tragedy that lay in this book even though I was sure that there was God’s light at the end. However, after hearing from my Pastor and his 14 year old grandson, who both read the book, I decided to read it.

I bought it last Saturday and finished it this morning. I couldn’t put it down. This book definitely pushed the boundaries of my mind and who I believed God to be (like Mack, in the book, I was thinking he looked something like Gandalf from The Lord of the Rings) and how He reveals Himself to us. It also questioned how and what I believed someone who claims to be a Christian and follower of Jesus should and does live.

For those who want to read the book, I won’t spoil it for you by disecting the story or by giving anything else away. One thing I will say about this book is that you won’t find any Scripture in this book but this isn’t a Bible study or someone necessarily putting their interpretation of the Bible on paper. This is a work of FICTION so please take that into consideration if you ever read this book.

On a non-related note, it’s Friday! 🙂 Yaay! Tonight, my church is hosting our monthly Pioneer Valley House of Prayer. Check out my other blog here for more information or find us on facebook under Prayer House!

Have a Blessed weekend all!

Jen

Happy Anniversary Sarah Mae!

Ok, so I know I’ve been out of the loop on a lot of my favorite blogs for the past few months but I’m happy to report that I’m BACK! 🙂

First thing on my “to-do list” is to give a shout out to Sarah Mae from Like a Warm Cup of Coffee. I found her blog months ago and read it every day. I absolutely love her insight on the things of God. What she has to say isn’t just for marrieds and mommies but single women too!

This week she is celebrating her blogaversary and we are all invited. Check out the invite on the right side of my page.

Blessings,
Jen

P.S. I’m sure you are all wondering about my trip to China. It was AMAZING! That’s my word for the trip. 🙂 I will be posting about my trip in the next couple of days with pictures.