"The Shack"

I have to admit that I used to really like this book.

I was given the assignment to write a research paper in response to the doctrine of Salvation as it is dealt with in "The Shack."

The book is a "novel" so William Paul Young can say anything he wants to, without having to give any references or have anyone demand anything from him to support his thoughts.

I still kinda liked the book during the writing of the paper.

Young does NOT give any type of Biblical account of the salvation process within the pages of his story.

The three main problems that I have with Young's novel are as follows: it teaches that God does not need to, nor wants to punish or judge sin; God has done everything in His power to redeem people and now human kind's entire chance of salvation is left up to themselves; Jesus is the "best" way to heaven, but never addressed as the only way to heaven.

After writing 14 pages on this subject... I do not care too much for that book.

Seasons?

After talking to .0 last night, I realized that we both kept using the term "seasons" to describe stages in our lives. How true is that?

Spring-the renewal of things, the beauty of new life, refreshing rains, hope, rejuvenation

Summer-busy relaxation, refining fire, harvesting of crops, longer days

Fall-old things passing away, new sight, cool breezes of familiarity, preparation

Winter-a time of hibernation, longer nights, harsh realty of a lack of preparation or joyful realization thereof

I love trees. I don't know if it's because my PawPaw loved them so much, if it's because I love the outdoors, if it's because you only see a little less than half of them above ground, or what, all I know is... I love trees. Trees have amazing seasons! For non-evergreens, spring brings beautiful buds, summer brings leaves to sustain life, fall brings the beauty of the changing colors and winter the toughness of dormancy. I feel as though that is our Christian lives. A season of growth brought on by storms. A season of reaching up and out for sustenance. A season of passing off the old things and stripping bare of who we were. A season of loneliness and realization of needs.

He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning. --Daniel 2:21

^{Psalm 1:1-3}
Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night. ³ He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers

Jesus and the love songs

What if we loved Jesus the way love songs are written? Think about it! There are 1,000s of "Love Songs" out there written about some weirdo who left some other weirdo or some dork whose in love with some other dork; but if you really listen to the words and apply them to the great lover of your soul, WOW! Take these few selections for example:

Hold me, hold me
And never let me go until you've told me, told me
What I want to know and then just hold me, hold me
Make me tell you I'm in love with you

They told me "Be sensible with your new love"
"Don't be fooled, thinking this is the last you'll find"
But they never stood in the dark with you, love
When you take me in your arms
and drive me slowly out of my mind

I've got sunshine
On a cloudy day.
When it's cold outside,
I've got the month of May

I don't need no money,
Fortune or fame.
I've got all the riches, baby,
One man can claim

I love Him, I love Him, I love Him,
And where He goes,
I'll follow, I'll follow, I'll follow.
he'll always be my true love, my true love, my true love
from now until forever, forever, forever

I did you wrong
my heart went out to play
But in the game
I lost you
What a price to pay
I'm cryin'

Save me, I’m lost
Oh lord, I’ve been waiting for you
I’ll pay any cost
Save me from being confused
Show me what I’m looking for
Show me what I’m looking for…oh lord

You have my attention
Like you’ve had all the while
Since that first day when you made my heart smile
With loving eyes and tired sighs that flow
You have my attention
Like you shout through an empty sanctuary
Speak but a whisper

I need you like the dragonfly's wings need the wind,
like the orphan needs home once again,
like heaven needs more to come in.
I need you here like you've always been.

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." --Romans 5:8

Why blog?

Good question; I'm not sure. Lots of changes have happened in my life in the past few months, I've been experiencing LIFE (really living) lately and not just surviving, God has made Himself more REAL to me and I've found that THE ONLY way we can really reach anyone is through LOVE. Maybe, that's why this blog has come about, to try and help others see that real, true LOVE is the way people will change, it's the way JESUS did it, it's the way I'm trying to do it and so far... it's working pretty well.

I'm not a huge fan of the 3,602 different versions of the Bible we have in English (another blog for another day), but this passage in the Contemporary English Version, is pretty neat:

1 John 4:7-12 (CEV):

My dear friends, we must love each other. Love comes from God, and when we love each other, it shows that we have been given new life. We are now God's children, and we know him. God is love, and anyone who doesn't love others has never known him. God showed his love for us when he sent his only Son into the world to give us life. Real love isn't our love for God, but his love for us. God sent his Son to be the sacrifice by which our sins are forgiven. Dear friends, since God loved us this much, we must love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is truly in our hearts.

How will people be able to tell we've been transformed if we don't love?