No, folks! Sorry to disappoint you. It's not Oprah's Book Club, it's Ohilda's Book Club!
Since Christmas, I've allotted time to myself to do something that I thoroughly enjoy and have not done in a few years. Read! I love reading. Most of my reading has been non-fiction, but with the leaving the worries to God thought, I figured I'd take myself on some fantasy journeys and hit the path of fiction for a while. So for those of you that like reading, from time-to-time I may end up posting about some really good reads.
My very sweet bloggy friend, Amy, from ...for such a time as this, recently read the book, The Shack, by William P. Young. Her reviews were extremely positive and the storyline definitely captured my attention. So, guess who gave Amanda the book for Christmas? (I know...slick, eh?) I finished reading it in 2 days. One day staying up till almost 3 a.m. to finish it.
After the first few chapters it slowed down a bit and I thought of putting it down, but then I thought about Amy's review and a few other people I have met since that have read it, and knew I had to continue. Am I glad I did! It was great. It gave you a totally different view of Jesus and allowed you to see the Savior as who He is and not as we (speaking of myself being Catholic) are taught to see Him. The book definitely left me with a feeling of wishing that the storyline wasn't fiction. Unfortunately, it is. But I believe in my heart that many of the situations in the book (sorry, no spoilers here) will be pretty accurate of how it will be on the day we find ourselves standing face-to-face with the King of Kings!
So, if you're looking for some light reading that turns into some heavy-duty, mind-pondering, wonder-if-this-is-what-it's-like type of book, pick up a copy of The Shack! You won't regret it!
(CLICK ON THE PICTURES ABOVE TO ENLARGE)
13 comments :
I read the Shack a while ago and thoroughly enjoyed it. I love hearing different perspectives on the trinity. You need to read Randy Alcorns books, his fiction is great. my favorite, deadline series. He has a really great perspective on heaven and made me think outside the box.
I read it twice and that says alot!!! It is a book everyone should read, esp in these hard times. I laughed out loud, cried out loud, I just couldn't put it down. The sense of peace you get,... well I don't wanna give it away... GO READ IT!
I have read it too. Good enough book. It does slow down and then pick back up. BTW..love the new header and look!
it looks like a great book...it will be #536 on my "to read list". ha!
O, I am so glad you enjoyed the book as much as I did...I've always had such a hard time wrapping my mind around the Trinity and this book brought me as close to a sense of understanding as I'll probably ever have...so much in it that was thought provoking and HOPEFUL. Boy, I LOVE hopeful!
XO, Amy
p.s. Lovin' the ABBA! Here's to all your hopes and dreams coming true, sweet friend.
I'm putting this one down on my 'must read' list! Sounds like a book full of hope and peace....Thanks for sharing:-).
I have heard so much about this book. Everywhere I go people are talking about it. I have put off reading it because I wasn't sure if I'd like it....people always say "I don't agree with EVERYTHING presented in the book....." and so I just haven't done it yet.
Maybe soon. I'm intrigued. have a great day!
sherri
Ohilda!
I just read this book!
I loved it SOOOO much. It really gave me a new picture/understanding of forgiveness and so much more.
When will we be gathering for our club meeting, coffee and pastries to discuss????
Blessings friend!!!
LOVE the new header!
Ohilda,
Should I rain on everyone's parade? Why is it that I read most of the book and felt wrong reading it, like I was betraying my Father. I realize this book is fiction and I am not a fiction reader, so that is part of it. However, this book is being sold as a spiritual book to Christians and non-Christians alike. Here are my concerns with hopes of not getting attacked by all those who love it. And for those who did love it I would love to hear how they addressed these issues in the book that disturbed me or at least offer for you to look at it in another light not just a great book of fiction that helped you know how much Jesus loves you. How does this tell you Jesus loves you when
-The Trinty is distorted on numerous levels? And the
-Issue of sin being its own punishment - (then why did Christ die on the cross for me?)
I have seen on many blogs the praise and adoration for this book and I simply do not understand it. Even in a work of fiction, I do not want to read that I am equal to our Father as this book states.
This book would not bother me so much if it were not being sold in Christian book stores and churches. If it were sitting on the New Age shelf, I would for one not bothered to pick it up and two would believe it was properly shelved!
Enlighten me like only you can do Ohilda!
I've heard of this book before; thanks for the review; I'm going to check into reading it; sounds like something I would enjoy
I think its neat you are making time to read for you this year; I'm trying to do the same too; between time on computer and other things, I realize I got into the habit of speed reading and not taking time to enjoy words like in a story so I'm trying to get back to reading and reading each word, LOL, to fully appreciate what is being said
enjoy your weekend
betty
To Sally~That Girl,
I know I am not any Ohilda, but you have to finish the book to "get the full monty" so to speak,...
Dear Ohilda,
I think you did a great job of putting your thoughts/feelings of the book in perspective. This is a work of fiction. I don't believe the author is attempting anything other than 1st - to write a compelling story and 2nd - to initiate thought/discussion and I believe that the ultimate message of the story was one of hope and survival THROUGH God (Jesus being a MAJOR component of "who", for lack of a better word, God is). The Trinity is so difficult to grasp (for me, at least). I believe in it, personally, but have always done so by Faith because it encompasses so much more than my feeble mind can wrap itself around. We'll never know, while on earth, if the explanation/description presented in this story is accurate, but I think anything that gets us closer to a possibility of greater understanding through wonder is a good thing. I believe such stories get us to think about where we are in our own faith (or lack thereof). And to me, that's healthy.
To Sally~That Girl,
I don't think you're raining on anyone's parade at all. Your questions/concerns are valid. I imagine many others may share them. That's the neat thing about books such as these, it gets a discussion going.
In my own humble opinion, and I stress HUMBLE because what the heck do I know, God KNOWS each of our hearts and He isn't threatened when one (or in this case, MANY) of His children read stories that make them question their personal beliefs of the intricacies of faith and their concept of "who" God is and how He may present Himself to us.
I totally missed the message that we are "equal to our Father." I guess I read the message to be that God (in the Trinity) LIVES WITHIN each of us. That when we have reached the best that is within us as humans, we are in UNION with God.
I can't speak to the Trinity being distorted on numerous levels because, as I mentioned, I'm still working on grasping the concept. I have been in Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian, Baptist and Catholic services and gotten very different presentations of the Trinity. They're all Christian, but they vary on "definition." So, who's correct? One? All? I don't know.
Sin being it's own punishment...hmmm...you got me thinking here. Again, IMOHO, Christ died on the cross for us so that we may have the possibility of life ever-after with God in Heaven. But we are fallible, sinful humans. Christ didn't die on the cross that we may not feel the consequenses ON EARTH of our sins. Yes, we may be redeemed through His grace, but we are not completely unaccountable for our sins. We have been granted free will by God. That privelege can come with a price here on earth, separate from the grace and peace granted at death through Christ.
I'd be really curious to hear other people's opinions. Either here, or private email or on my blog (I've hit on controversial subjects over there, so please take it easy on me if you visit...I don't claim to be anything other than a human woman who loves God and her family) :)
O...look what you started, girlfriend, an online book club! What fun! YOU ROCK!!! XO, A.
It's interesting to hear everyone's view on this book. For me it was the author's way of trying to see GOD in a simple manner instead of the complexity of spiritualism. I absolutely loved the book and I loved the way the author used different characters to identify the trinity. Using the characters to define God the father, the son and the Holy Spirit was just impressive.
I just have to say that I was in a spiritual hole before reading the book and after I read it - it totally brought me back to the center of worship which is JESUS CHRIST. I thought the book totally rocked !!!
Post a Comment