The Shack Attack!

Hi Everyone,

Bear with me, this is going to be a long one, but stay focused, because this is important!

Recently someone on one of the posting boards I'm on wrote to say that she was reading the book, The Shack, and that there were things in it that were unsettling to her, "red flags". She was reading for someone else's benefit, so that will explain the context of my answer back to her. Some of it has been edited for readability.

Here is my response to her, and might be my final word on the book THE SHACK.

I would say that you are right todiscern that when "red flags" go up you'd better take notice. That's the HolySpirit within you saying, "UH UH - that's not right!" I wouldn't finish that book for anyone - period!

My husband and I have spent hours talking about this book that neither of us have read. I began reading a review about the book on www.Challies.com, at the recommendation of my precious husband, after all the hype I'd been hearing about it. First and foremost, when I read that in The Shack God the Father was portrayed as an older African American woman, Christ as a laid back middle-easterner, and the Holy Spirit as an Asian woman, "Red Flags" don't even begin to describe the feelings that came up within me. I am disgusted by this blatant blasphemy! God has revealed Himself quite clearly in His WORD as He is, and He doesn't need anyone else to change His character in order to try to reach out to others, or make them feel better. I literally had to take a day off before Icould read anymore of the review because of my sick stomach and grieved Spirit over what I'd already read.

If one wants to see how God reveals Himself in the midst of suffering, guess what, HE has written an entire book about it, that reveals Him as He is - High and Lifted Up! Send your wondering friends and family members to read the book of Job.

If we become angry and/or embittered towards God in our sufferings, it is because of sin and pride in our own lives that have made us that way. God does not need us to create "new revelations" in order to make Him more palatable to others.

Now, before you start throwing rotten tomatoes and fruit at me for being "judgmental", let me tell you that I have experienced first hand the pain and loss of a child, in real life, not in the land of "make believe". I know what it feels like to question WHY??? What did I do? Why us? Why her? Why me? Notice carefully how focused those questions are on myself, because that is the key to all of this. It is not until we can say of God, just like Job, in Job 1:20-21 "Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshiped, and said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." When we get the focus off of ourselves and look instead to the ways that God might be glorified even in the midst of our pain and suffering, then we are moving towards truly knowing God.

I have had countless opportunities in the last 13 years since Kathryn died to go to hurting families - people I didn't even know - in hospitals, at funeral homes, and in church pews where they grieved as though they would never survive the pain. Each and every time, I have prayed before going and acknowledged God's ultimate sovereignty by saying,"Lord, if my Kathryn died for such a time as this, help me to minister your peace and your grace to this family." Bad things happen because of sin in theWorld, Satan is at work among the things in this world, but he (Satan) ultimately answers to God, and that is where our hope can be found. Nothing happens in my life, or yours, that did not come first through the approval of God the Father. Who, by the way is a male figure, a Spirit, and the head of the Godhead. He is not human, and no man can dare look upon Him, much less speak to Him with profanity, as the main character, Mack, does in this book The Shack.

Can you tell that this book has REALLY gotten under my skin?

I've suffered the loss of a child. It stinks, it's horrible, it's indescribable, you wouldn't wish it on anyone else - EVER. But, I learned who my God truly is during this time of horrific sadness. I sought him, not in the place where my daughter died, not in my self focused despair, but within the pages of His Holy Word. And, I found Him there, High and Lifted Up where the train of His robe fills the temple, where the elders fall on their faces day and night shouting Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty! I clung to the scripture that revealed to me a God who is able to take something truly awful and use it for our ultimate good (though we may never see it this side of heaven) and always for His glory. As I clung to the Word, this loving, Holy, amazing God of ours showed me glimpses of who He truly is. John 17:3 says, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." Thetrue God, is the only one I want to know! He is nothing like He is portrayed in The Shack.

It is absolutely imperativethat we be discerning and that we teach our children to be discerning, that is why we homeschool using the scriptures! We have a gold standard, it is theWord, and anything that portrays God in any other way is heresy, plain and simple. 2Ti 4:1 - 4 says, " I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

If any of you are interested in reading the review that I read, it's available as a free PDF document at http://www.challies.com/media/The_Shack.pdf This is a VERY thorough review of the book using Scripture as the standard against which it is weighed. The document is 17 pages long. He has read the book himself (bless his heart) and has certainly done his homework in preparing this review for others.

Anyone wishing to know more about the loss of our daughter can read a little about it through the following links to my blog http://homeforhim.blogspot.com/2008/01/tragedy-for-family-of-rick-burgess.html and http://homeforhim.blogspot.com/2007/10/how-we-came-to-adopt.html I would be more than happy to discuss these issues privately with anyone who is struggling. I also have a CD available of a talk my husband and I gave about a year ago at a local church for their sermon series "Shattered... Broken LivesRestored". If you're not from the South, you'll have to overlook our obvious Southern drawls. :O)

I'd say that about sums it up!
Loving you, my Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Lori McGuire
TnLMcGuire@yahoo.com

Back to the Back doctor!

Just a note to let those of you who visit often know that I am scheduled for another spinal block (an epidural to the nerve root end) on Wednesday (the 27th) of this week.

This requires that I be put to sleep, which I never like, but I did well the first time I had this done a couple of weeks ago.

I covet your prayers for a successful procedure, and for my family as they once again wait on me for a few days.

In Christ's care,
Lori

"The Shack" - A Strong Warning

I just wanted to take a moment to tell you all about a book, The Shack, that seems to be making the rounds - among Christians, and non-Christians alike. This book, a fictional story, has people highlighting and making notes of things they want to remember about "God'. Although it is a work of fiction, the book setsforth a whole host of theological ideas, all of which are nowhere near being in line with the truths found in God's Word.

I actually wanted to warn you about this book, and to encourage you to be aware of its growing popularity among "Christians". This book puts much emphasis on "new revelation", and on sick and twisted views of our High and Holy God.

I think it is important that all Believers be aware of the items of popular culture, that have the ability to confuse and blind professing believers and non-Chrisitans alike. Many who've read the book are buying multiple copies and giving them out to their friends - saved and lost, in hopes of encouraging them to seek God and to help them to know him more.

Knowing God is the most important thing a person can ever hope for in this life. So important that John wrote, "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." John 17:3 I too wish to encourage others to seek God while He may be found, I'd suggest looking for Him in the pages of His Word, the Bible, not in works of fiction.

I have not read this book and would consider reading it, to be more informed about the actual content, a waste of the precious days God has allowed me here on earth. You can read reviews at http://www.amazon.com/review/product/0964729245/ref=cm_cr_pr_hist_1?%5Fencoding=UTF8&filterBy=addOneStar

Be aware, and beware,
Lori

Another Year Older!

Well, yesterday was my birthday, and no, I am not 40 yet, though I am getting awfully close! I am thankful to say that another birthday has come and gone. Since my last birthday I have become a mother again for the third time, and escaped killing myself when falling down our stairs!

I am thankful to have lived another year, and hope for many more years to serve my God, love my husband, and cherish my children (oh, and don't forget my dog!)!

So, Happy Birthday to ME!

Lori

Devotional Thoughts for the Day

Today I was emailing a friend about my recent spinal procedure and I was telling her that the Doctor mentioned that there was a small fragmented piece of the herniated disc that was on the nerve rootend. That is what was causing all of my pain. He told me that the piece was likely no larger than a pen tip. I was shocked to learn that something so small could be the cause of so much pain. That got me to thinking.....

Are there any other "little" things in my life that are causing pain? Do I have any habits or sins in my life that seem small, but are really causing a lot of pain to myself or others? Many times our "little" sins don't seem to be anything we want to discuss. We have the tendency to think that one little area of sin that I keep to myself is not really that big of a deal. Right? Wrong! Any sin that remains in our lives damages our relationship to Christ, injures our relationships with others, and hinders our ability to minister to those who do not believe. Yes, I feel like Paul when I do those things I hate, and don't do what I know I should. Many times I've felt the same way he did when he said, "O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" And I too thank God -- through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7:14-25)

Colossians 4:5-6 says

"Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside (the lost), redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one."

It's difficult to be thinking about sharing Christ with others when we are busy hiding areas of our lives that we hope no one else will find out about, or we have our minds on the things of the world and not the things of God.

2 Timothy 4:2-5 says

"Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry."

Paul wrote these words to Timothy to encourage him in his mission to share Christ with those in his world, to be an evangelist, to fulfill his ministry. We all have people within our sphere of influence to whom we must minister the truth of Christ. Everyone has a ministry, whether you are working outside the home and minister to co-workers and customers or clients, or you're at home full-time and you minister to your husband and children and those you see when you are out and about, or maybe you volunteer at a hospital or a ministry of some sort. No matter where you are, you are to fulfill your ministry. Do you even realize that you have one? You do! But, it's hard to fulfill if we are trying to keep up a facade and hide that little sin we hope no one else finds out about.

1 Peter 3:15-17 says

"... sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil."

God help us to understand this, to see that we are constantly laid bare before You! No sin is hidden that will not be one day shouted from the house tops. Help me to be sensitive to Your precious Holy Spirit, quick to confess and turn from my sins, honest with those around me about my own struggles, and ready to give an account to others for why I have the hope of redemption! David understood this,

Psalm 69:5, "O God, You know my foolishness;

and my sins are not hidden from You."

I pray that we will flee from our foolishness and run to Christ, who is our salvation and our life.

Recently our Pastor did a sermon on "Sin in the Camp" and how a little sin has a ripple effect and how it hurts those around us and destroys our witness to unbelievers, and even our ability to minister to our brothers and sisters in Christ. You can listen to this amazing 4 part sermon here: http://www.brookhills.org/media/page_audio_chrono_2008.htm

Begin with the sermon from 02/03/08. This is powerful stuff!

Loving you all in Christ,

Lori