I read The Shack about eight months ago. It was also recommended to me, and I thought it was excellent. It is the story of a father whose young daughter has been murdered. He receives an invitation to return to that very shack where she has been murdered, and is transformed by his encounter there with God. For me, it certainly challenged the way I have thought about the Father, Son and Holy Spirit - and the relationship among them, and the relationships I have. I know that some people are critical about this piece of fiction, but I found it to be eye-opening, and when read with discernment, I thought that a lot could be gained from what William Young is wanting to communicate to readers - and wanting us to experience, as a result. I would be curious, Pastor Sam, about what you think of it if you read it, and the thoughts others have as well.
- Melissa
And as usual, I like to pull little snippets from Amazon so people can get a feel for the book. A couple of reviews are below ...
----
“The Shack” is a one of a kind invitation to journey to the very heart of God. Through my tears and cheers, I have been indeed transformed by the tender mercy with which William Paul Young opened the veil that too often separated me from God and from myself. With every page, the complicated do’s and don’t that distort a relationship into a religion were washed away as I understood Father, Son and Holy Spirit for the first time in my life. --Patrick M. Roddy, ABC News Emmy Award winning producer
Finally! A guy-meets-God Novel that has literary integrity and spiritual daring. “The Shack” cuts through the cliches of both religion and bad writing to reveal something compelling and beautiful about life’s integral dance with the Divine. This story reads like a prayer--like the best kind of prayer, filled with sweat and wonder and transparency and surprise. When I read it, I felt like I was fellowshipping with God. If you read one work of fiction this year, let this be it. --Mike Morrell, zoecarnate.com
