The Shack

I just finished reading The Shack by Wm. Paul Young. I must say it was a wonderful read. The part that made me uncomfortable was the way God was manifested. I have listed several quotes below that spoke to my heart. I trust they will be an encouragement to you!

There is something joyful about storms that interrupt routine. Snow or freezing rain suddenly releases you from expectations, performance demands, and the tyranny of appointments and schedules. And unlike illness, it is largely a corporate rather than individual experience. One can almost hear a unified sigh rise from the nearby city and surrounding countryside where Nature has intervened to give respite to the weary humans slogging it out within her purview. All those affected this way are united by a mutual excuse, and the heart is suddenly and unexpectedly a little giddy. There will be no apologies needed for not showing up to some commitment or other. Everyone understands and shares in this singular justification, and the sudden alleviation of the pressure to produce makes the heart merry. p. 15

“You mean,” Mack interjected a little sarcastically, “that I can’t just ask, ‘What Would Jesus Do’?”
Jesus chuckled. “Good intentions, bad idea. Let me know how it works for you, if that’s the way you choose to go.” He paused and grew sober. “Seriously, my life was not meant to be an example to copy. Being my follower is not trying to ‘be like Jesus,’ it means for your independence to be killed. I came to give you life, real life, my life. We will come and live our life inside of you, so that you begin to see with our eyes, and hear with our ears, and touch with our hands, and think like we do. But, we will never force that union on you. If you want to do your thing, have at it. Time is on our side.”
“This must be the dying daily that Sarayu was talking about,” said Mack and nodded.” p. 149

Have you noticed that in your pain you assume the worst of me? I’ve been talking to you for a long time, but today was the first time you could hear it, and all those other times weren’t a waste, either. Like little cracks in the wall, one at a time, but woven together they prepared you for today. You have to take the time to prepare the soil if you want it to embrace the seed. p. 176

Mack, just because I work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedies doesn’t mean I orchestrate the tragedies. Don’t ever assume that my using something means I caused it or that I need it to accomplish my purposes. That will only lead you to false notions about me. Grace doesn’t depend on suffering to exist, but where there is suffering you will find grace in many facets and colors. p. 185

“Mackenzie, religion is about having the right answers, and some of their answers are right. But I am about the process that takes you to the living answer and once you get to Him, He will change you from the inside. There are a lot of smart people who are able to say a lot of right things from their brain because they have been told what the right answers are, but they don’t know me at all. So really, how can their answers be right even if they are right, if you understand my drift?” She smiled at her pun. “So even though they might be right, they are still wrong.” p. 198

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Prepare for Rain

Michael Catt's book, Prepare for Rain: The Story of a Church that Believed God for the Impossible, should be required reading for all pastors and interested laymen. He does a great job explaining the ministry at Sherwood Baptist Church. The book tells a little about the movie, Facing the Gaints. This is where part of the title of the book comes (the first quote below is from the book, but taken frm the movie). I've only included a few quotes from the book, but please do not think any less of the book, it is excellent!

GrantI heard a story about two farmers who desperately needed nrain. Both of them prayed for rain, but only one of them went out and prepared his fields to receive it. Which one do you think trusted God to send the rain? Well, the one who prepared his fields for it. Which one are you? God will send the rain when He is ready. You need to prepare your fields to receive it. p. 11

Revival comes by agonizing, not organizing. p. 160

Revival is a divine interruption. I long for something to happen that is not on our planned-out, pre-arranged calendars. In 1975 I heard James Baker Cauthen say, "We're so organized and planned out that if the Holy Spirit left we could run for ten years and never know He was gone." We don't have time to seek God because we have to sell the latest product.p. 160

Un fortunately, the circumstances will rarely be completely favorable for believing God. We're forced to believe in darkness, crisis, tragedy, grief, suffering and uncertainty. Have you ever considered the following:

• Alexander the Great conquered the world by his thirtieth birthday but never went to college.
• Shakespeare was one of the greatest writers in history, but he didn't know to type.
• Knute Rockne, a legendary coach at Notre Dame, never won an NCCA championship.
• The twelve disciples never had a best-selling book or renowned religious talk show.
• Paul was never voted TIME Magazine's "Man of the Year."
• Martin Luther was considered a heretic by his peers.
• John B unyan wrote Pilgrim's Progress in prison.
• A church in Albany, Georgia, made a movie! pp. 168-169

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You Were Made For More

Jim Cymbala's new book, You Were Made for More, has many good thoughts. I have listed several below:

God’s kingdom will not be achieved by halfhearted measures. When we begin to act on our special assignment, it is pretty much guaranteed that we will be pushed beyond our comfort zones. We may be called to do things we don’t feel prepared for, even if we are capable. The assignment may call for more faith and courage than we have ever known. p. 27

We would do well not to focus on the top troubles lined up against us. Instead, we need to celebrate the God who has already demonstrated His power and provision in our past. p. 37

One word picture in the Bible for the Holy Spirit is fire. P.74

Fire has at least three remarkable properties that help us understand the work of the spirit. p. 75

1. Fire penetrates whatever it touches. p. 75
The Holy Spirit destroys whatever is flammable. He burns up what doesn’t belong in our lives, the “wood, hay, or straw” (1 Cor. 3:12) that are going to be exposed on the day of judgment anyway. They might as well get burned out now. p. 76
2. Fire serves as a light p. 76
The Holy Spirit is a bright and shinning guide for us. p. 76
3. Fire is contagious p. 76
If we are ablaze with God’s Spirit, we are bound to affect other people. p. 76

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There is a place for human logic and judgment - but not if these things undermine God’s plans for our lives through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. p. 110

The principle behind almost any form of exercise is that resistance is required to make a person stronger. Muscles can’t build without force working against them. The same is true in the spiritual realm. Without “powers and principalities” working against us from time to time, our spiritual muscles don’t have a chance to be developed. p. 137

God is always into making His children channels of blessing. Remember this every time you face a difficult challenge. The day is coming when you will be a source of inspiration and hope to someone else who is undergoing a deep trial. p. 144

God develops testimonies of victory out of settings of difficulty and sometimes even desperation. Then He puts them to use with people who are struggling today just like we did yesterday. p. 145

Many of us today are in danger of missing out on a great future with God because of our concern over qualifications. p. 170

But God knows what He is doing, and when we take the risk to follow Him, He will meet all our needs. If we need financial resources, He will supply them. If we need strength and endurance, He will fortify us. If we need wisdom, He has promised to give it to us. We simply have to take God at His Word, trusting and obeying, regardless of the what-ifs and regardless of our fears. p. 170

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Mountain In My Rearview Mirror

One of my favorite storytellers is Bill Butterworth. In his new book, Mountain In My Rearview Mirror, he does not disappoint!

I highly recommend this book for everyone. I think after you read the quotes below, you will agree!

If you speak to the hurting, you will never lack for an audience. p. xv

Honestly, I see things in my life today that I never would have seen without the opportunity to overcome the overwhelming obstacles in my life. I'm a different man-a better man-today. For all the theologians out there, let me be clear. I don't think God caused my obstacles, but He certainly did allow them to happen. And I think He did so in order to strengthen me in the way I live my life. He was building character. p. xxv

God is interested in more than an occasional glance. He wants to be our total focus. p. 54

All of us develop some level of SADD (spiritual attention deficit disorder). p. 59

When we dwell on life's circumstances, anxiety and fear return. p. 60

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God Philippians 4:6

This verse may be the most helpful because of its simple formula. Don't be anxious. Instead, take all the time and effort normally expended on anxiety and replace it with prayer. Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything! p. 61

Worry and doubt are signs that we have lost our focus. p. 62

For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

For our purposes, perhaps we could paraphrase it this way:

For we walk by focus, not by vision.

In the end, it's not what we can see, but how faithful we are to trust God. Seeing only complicates the situation. For what we see often is perceived as opposite of what God should be doing.  p. 63

We don't need to fight, but we do need to stand in order to see God deliver us.

You will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD's victory. 2 Chronicles 20: 17  p. 123

Our adversaries will stand against each other and destroy each other.

The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them. After they had destroyed the army of Seir, they began attacking each other. 2 Chronicles 20: 23  p. 127

We're being faithful. We're trusting God. But nothing seems to be happening. Hang in there, friend. Just because it isn't happening now doesn't mean it isn't going to happen. It's all a matter of timing-God's perfect timing.  p. 127

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A Tale of two Sons

John MacArthur in A Tale of Two Sons does an excellent job of examining the parable in Luke 15:11-32.

I have a quote about sheep and a shepherd.

A sheep separated from the flock and left to wander by itself in the wilderness will die, even with an abundance of food and water all around. It's only a matter of time before the lost sheep would succumb to the stress of being separated from the flock, the threat of predators, or exposure to the elements. Any or all of those could be fatal in short order. p. 28

There's an image of compassion and an illustration of divine grace in the way the shepherd "lays it on his shoulders" and brings it home. He doesn't bear or berate the wandering sheep. He doesn't even leave it to the sheep to travel home in his own power. He lifts it up and carries it, and he does so with joy and delight rather than anger or exasperation. In fact, in Jesus' account, the shepherd is so delighted over the return of the sheep that he calls together his friends and neighbors to celebrate. p. 28

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FireProof Your Life

The book, FireProof Your Life, is a study based on the movie Fire Proof. It is a very good book.

Here are a few quotes:

Trials show what we are made of - they reveal our hearts, our faith, our level of maturity. p. 14

Noah built an ark.

"Are you kidding, Lord? What's an ark?"

Abraham, set out for a city.

"What city? Aren't You going to give me a map?"

Abraham, you've going to have a child.

"At my age? Do You know how old my wife is?"

Joseph, I've got big plans for you.

"Lord, You're going to have to get me out of this prison first. I'm a forgotten man.

Israel, take the land.

"Are you crazy? We're grasshoppers and they're giants."

 (Remember the Bible records the failures of faith and its consequences as well as the stories of those who trusted God and took Him at His Word.).

David, you are going to be the next king of Israel.

"How? If I don't keep running, King Saul is going to kill me!"

Elijah, pray down fire from heaven.

Are you sure, Lord? It seems to me I'm out numbered."

Job, trust Me with your loss and pain.

"Lord, nobody knows the trouble I've seen."

Isaiah, prophesy in My name.

"Lord, don't You know my friend the king just died? I'm grieving right now."

Jeremiah, buy the land.

"Lord, I'm no expert in real estate, but it seems to me that's not a very good deal."

Micah, tell them Messiah will come from Bethlehem.

"Lord, most folks can't even find Bethlehem on the map."

Peter, get out of the boat.

"And do what? Walk on water?" pp. 44-45

The biggest problem we face is not knowing what is right, but being willing to do what is right. p. 71

We think getting is the answer to all our problems, but in God's economy giving is the answer. Through our giving we understand that Christ supplies all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. p 126

God always reserves something for Himself in the physical realm, where man obtains his living, to remind man that God is the owner of everything. God reserved for Himself a tree, a day, a city, the tithe, a year when the land was to stand idle. The facts here are clear. What God sets aside as holy, as His, is a reminder that we are stewards, not owners. p. 131

If God is your Father, please call home. Corrie ten Boom said, "The Devil smiles when we make plans. He laughs when we get too busy. But he trembles when we pray." When you feel swept off your feet, it's time to go back on your knees. (John Mason in Why Ask Why? If You Know the Right Questions You Can Find the Right Answers) p. 142

Acknowledge that conflicts are a part of of life. Where there is movement, there is friction.

Thank God for the conflict. Yes, you read that correctly. Anything that causes you to seek the Lord is a blessing.

Leave the results to God. When we have taken our stand on His Word, we can rest knowing He will respond as He has promised.  p. 145

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Where the River Ends

Charles Martin's new book, Where the River Ends, is an excellent read, but I would not call it Christian fiction.

I have just a couple of quotes from the book:

I don't care what trash the world throws at you, don't let it muddy your reflection. p. 3

... I felt valued. Valued because that person in front of me, that "subject," was trusting me with one of the most valuable things they owned-their reflection. p. 145

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