Have you read "The Shack?"

I haven't...I tried but I could not get into it. I ordered it from the library after a woman at the bookstore told me how life changing it was. The first few pages did not catch my interest and I have so many books in the pile waiting for me to read them, I gave up. After reading this review, perhaps it is just as well. From Hank Hanegraaff, The Bible Answer Man:

Over the last few months I've been hearing more and more about a book titled The Shack by William Young, who goes by his middle name, Paul. Some, like my mother, are profoundly disturbed by the content of this book. Others are saying that it is the best book they have ever read. In fact Eugene Peterson says "This book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress did for his. It's that good."

After reading a front page article in the Life section of USA Today and hearing a comment by a colleague, I decided to open the door on The Shack. Here's the deal: I have to confess that Young's stereotypical characterization of the Father as a large, beaming African-American woman, the Son is a Jew with a large nose, and the Holy Spirit is a mysterious Asian female makes me more than just a little queasy.

Furthermore, virtually every theological heresy begins with a misconception of the nature of God and The Shack is no exception. After chiding those he believes to have misconceptions about the Trinity Young proceeds to compromise, confuse and outright contradict biblical orthodoxy.

For example, he pictures the Father bearing crucifixion scars as well as being incarnated in tandem with the Holy Spirit. Not only so, but he pontificates that Jesus has never drawn upon His nature as God to do anything. Of course those who have read the Bible even once will immediately recognize the falsity of that statement, particularly with respect to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

One more point. Young has Jesus - the Jew with the big nose - declaring "I am not a Christian and I have no desire to make them" - and the them is Buddhists, Mormons, Muslims, etc. - "Christians." Indeed, Young describes Christians as religious fanatics and part of a sinful world system. Of course in sharp distinction the followers of Christ adopted the word "Christian" in the midst of suffering and persecution. You can see examples of that in the Book of Acts written by Luke or by Peter, such as 1 Peter 4:16.

The fact that The Shack is now being touted by those who take the sacred name of Jesus Christ upon their lips is, to me, a sad commentary on Christian discernment. Mark Driscoll, pastor of Mars Hill Church in Seattle said it best: "If you haven't read The Shack, don't." I suppose in the end it is books like this that make the need for discernment ministry ever more necessary.

Click on the title to visit Equip.org., The Christian Research Institute.

---Katie

Now It is Time to Destroy Sarah Palin....

so she never comes back. This is disgusting.


Strains Between McCain and Palin Aides Go Public

Report: Palin's Wardrobe Is to Be Audited by GOP

By KATE SNOW

Nov. 6, 2008

Now that the defeated team of Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin have gone their separate ways, the knives are out and Palin is the one who is getting filleted.

Revelations from anonymous critics from within the McCain-Palin campaign suggest a number of complaints about the Alaskan governor:

Fox News reports that Palin didn't know Africa was a continent and did not know the member nations of the North American Free Trade Agreement -- the United States, Mexico and Canada -- when she was picked for vice president.

Click on the title for the rest.

Do you honestly believe that someone who has two school teachers as parents and finished a four year degree does not know that Africa is a continent? Why aren't we making a big deal about Obama's 57 states? Oh, right, he's a liberal - he gets a pass.

What the media and liberal Republicans both want to prevent is Sarah Palin's having anything to do with the resurgence of conservatism in the Republican party. Thus, we must continue to slash away at her so she becomes so damaged that she will not be in the running in 2012. She was the bright spot in the campaign for me and many other folks. Sad to think that she is to be the scapegoat for the GOP's incompetence.

---Katie