Life-Changing Books:

"The Shack" by William P. Young

How can a man forgive his father who has abused him as a child? How can a father forgive the serial killer who murdered his 6-year-old little daughter? What revelation can turn the bitterness of a broken heart into joy and peace with the world, God and the self? What amazing experience can heal such painful wounds and replace the horror by faith and love? It must have been something great, something deep, with a huge impact, something coming from far beyond the boundaries of this world. You can find the answer in William P. Young's novel "The Shack", a book that combines a skillfully woven plot with such depth and wisdom that it can't but make its way to the most intimate part of the reader's soul. 

Unconventional and fascinating, captivating and profound, straightforward but subtle and delicate, this novel has all the attributes of a life-changing book. It deals with an old controversial topic and attempts to provide answers to the most burning questions of humanity. But it does it in such an original and charming way that, whether you are a convinced Christian or not, you feel you are taken one step forward on your spiritual journey. 

"The Shack" attempts to reveal the secret face of the true living God and the Holy Trinity. God is not what people have made of Him in their attempt to control their own destiny and protect their vulnerabilities. His image is built gradually around His own words "I am Who I am". Suddenly God appears to us surprising, fresh and new. Ideas we've been used to, things we've been taught to believe for such a long time lose their grip, and other things we've never thought of come into the equation to bring new light to the matter. 

Is God a male or a female? Is God really the stern master portrayed in the Old Testament? Does God have the sense of humour? Does God intervene in human existence? What is the truth about heaven and hell? Why does God allow evil? Can the Holy Spirit alter the dimensions of time and space? These are just a few of the questions that are dealt with in this novel. 

"The Shack" is much more than a best seller or an enjoyable read. It is a living book, one of those inspirational writings you remember and treasure for a long time. There is nothing rigid in it, nothing ostentatious or preaching-like. It teaches without sounding like a sermon. Nothing near. It is a book that opens hearts and minds by challenging the very prejudices that stand in the way of our relationship with God and with one another. 

Links: 

The Shack Book Website

Author's Blog

Prayer for every day

My Lord God,

Help me cope with one day at a time and make the best of every moment you give me. Rather than try to achieve a million things at once and abandon them half way through, help me do one thing properly and finish it successfully.

Give me wisdom and understanding to accept the things that drive me crazy and turn them into a source of blessing and a way to achieve spiritual progress.

Help me stay calm when people hurt me, and get the best out of negative experiences. Show me that everything happens for a reason and that, no matter what we're going through at the moment, we are not abandoned.

Give me strength to be prepared for whatever tomorrow brings and never give up the good fight.

AMEN

Words about prayer

Prayer is one of the ways of communicating with God, perhaps the most important one. That’s why it is essential that we pray regularly. There were periods in my life when I neglected prayer. Sometimes out of laziness or because I was caught up with other things. Other times because words seemed dry and my heart had nothing to say. It always felt like breaking a relationship, like turning my back on God. Then a time came when I felt like starting over. Let me tell you this, it wasn’t easy. I could feel the gap I’d created, it was as real as you and me. The words wouldn’t come without a struggle. It would take a while to reach the spiritual level I had reached before. Lack of exercise or practice in any area leads to lack of performance. So a good relationship with God requires a lot of prayer exercise. It’s so easy to say: “I’ll take a break today.” But then tomorrow it gets worse, and the day after tomorrow worse, and so on and so forth. By the time you want to pray again you might realize you have drifted away further than you thought. So even when you don’t feel like praying, make an effort. It is as important as brushing your teeth in the morning. Your effort won’t pass unrewarded. You might realize that by the end of the prayer, your heart will be burning with faith and devotion again.