Friday, February 20, 2009

The Shack by Wm. Paul Young

I’ve recently finished with the book The Shack by WM. Paul Young, and all I can say is, WOW! I kept hearing how good it was, and to be honest, I thought, it can’t really be that good, can it? Yes, it is. It is one of the few books that I’ve ever read, that I intend to re-read again immediately. It is one of the few books that I will force my non-fiction reading husband to read.


If you’ve ever wanted to picture God in a different light, this is the book to do it. If you’ve ever wanted the answers to why about the tough things and tragedies in life, this book will help you understand just a little more. If you’ve ever wanted to blow apart any religiosity you may hold and grasp relationship, boy oh boy, does this book do it! However, if you do not like to be challenged in your beliefs, if you hold an elitist attitude in your beliefs or if you try to keep God in a box, this book is probably not for you.


The Shack is a phenomenal book that will challenge your beliefs and make you long for more of God. It will probably make you laugh and cry, forgive and seek forgiveness, desire justice and mercy, and examine the deep places within your own heart. It brings to life in a profound way, the character of God, and the Persons of the Trinity. It gives us a picture of how our God makes beauty from ashes. It does not follow the absolute line of Scripture, but it paints a beautiful masterpiece for us to enjoy.

My recommendation? Read this book! Get it for yourself, and if possible, for others. Books like this don’t come around very often. It has the power to change lives. God’s anointing is all over it, and when I was reading it, I often times felt that I was sitting on the very lap of my Daddy Himself. For more information, go to http://www.theshackbook.com/.

~~~

The Shack
by WM. Paul Young

Mackenzie Allen Philip’s youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later, in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend.

Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack’s world forever.

In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant The Shack wrestles with the timeless question: Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain? The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did for him. You’ll want everyone you know to read this book!

11 comments:

  1. Oh yeah, I read that and was surprised beyond belief. Great book!

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  2. I really appreciated your comments, Tracy. When this book first came out, many said it wasn't worth reading because of the author and his relationship with Rick Warren. I have put off reading it because of other agendas, but feel now compelled to read it for myself.

    That is one of the great things about book reviews by people you know and trust their godliness :-)

    Thanks again for a great post and inspiration.

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  3. Lynn - I'm glad you liked it too. I know I'm in fine company! Thanks for your comment.

    Susan - Thank you for your kind comments and trust. I hadn't even heard about Rick Warren - it just seems that this book was everywhere, and I finally just had to check it out. I'm so glad I did! And I hope you enjoy it too!

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  4. Hi Tracy,

    I had to smile when i seen your post. I too just got done reading the shack. I tremendously enjoyed it. My husband has now began to read it. It is kinda along the same lines as pilgrims progress by bunyan and the final quest by joyner. I don't know if you have read those books but if you enjoyed the shack you will enjoy those books as well!

    There were some things in the book that i did not totally agree with but it was a great read nontheless and it will probably be one of those books that i will pick up and read again from time to time.

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  5. It really is a moving book. I'm a stickler for correct doctrine when it comes to non-fiction, but the creative licenses taken with this fiction book were not a problem for me. My relationship with the Lord was stirred, and not many non-fictions do that. Great review, Tracy!

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  6. I have heard so many wonderful reviews of this book and want to read it someday! Hoping a friend will loan it to me:) Maybe I better nudge her again!

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  7. I loved this book so much I bought it for my friend who hates to read. I knew it was going to be the only way to get her to read it. You could tell she was not too thrilled at first but she LOVED it and read it in 3 days! She then gave it to her mother. One moment I was sobbing the next I was laughing. Loved it!

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  8. What a great review, Tracy! Now I really can't wait to read this, I expect I shall find myself in a bookstore before this month is over. Thanks so much for posting your thoughts on this!

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  9. I have heard so much about this book. After reading your post I am going to have to read it.
    Thanks for sharing!
    Darlene

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  10. I read the book a couple months ago and was very impressed with it. I would suggest giving to unbelieving friends as a conversation starter.

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  11. Tracy, when I did blogged my review I got some strong, mixed reactions.
    I liked it. It did get sort of "long winded" at the end, but I have marked passages to refresh my memory often. Some parts of the book changed my Faith dramatically.
    Good review!

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