On Christian Book Club we are now reading Mark Buchanan’s “The Holy Wild”. We have read and discussed one of Mark’s book last year, “Your God is Too Safe”, and most of you found Mark to have a writing style that caused you to stop and reflect on who God is. As I have started reading “The Holy Wild” I think you will have draw the same conclusions. It is a very good book so far. The book is broken into three parts and so this month we will take about 10 days to read and discuss each of the parts. Part 1 is called “Drink From This Stream”, Part 2 is called “Stand in This Place, and Part 3 is called “Search These Woods”.

I look forward to reading your comments as Buchanan talks about God’s faithfulness and what that means to us. I am going to include a video that I found on You Tube where Mark is talking about one of his other books. I like to be able to watch and listen to the authors whenever possible. Sometimes it helps me connect to the writing in ways I might not have otherwise. I will also include a link to the book in case you don’t have it yet.

The Holy Wild: Trusting in the Character of God By Mark Buchanan / Multnomah It’s the direst question in human existence: Can God be trusted? With refreshing honesty, Buchanan poignantly explains what’s riding on our answer. Whether we’re peaceful or suspicious, happy or discontented, everything hangs on our perception of divine character—and matters mightily at the day of our death. Discover meaning for your life—and joy for living! 292 pages, hardcover from Multnomah.

I will be praying for all of you to have a truly blessed 2009!

For those of you on the Christian Book Club who really enjoy reading the classics, the following is a list of some great titles that are free for reading and printing. We have included the titles and URL addresses for your convenience.

The Cloud of Unknowing. -Anonymous. Translated by E. Colledge and J. Walsh.

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/anonymous2/cloud.txt

The Confessions of St. Augustine

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/augustine/confess.html

Follow the Lamb - Bonar, Horatius.

http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/book/lookupname?key=Bonar%2C%20Horatius%2C%201808-1889

Practice of the Presence of God: The Best Rule of Holy Life - Brother Lawrence.

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/lawrence/practice.titlepage.html

The Pilgrim’s Progress - Bunyan, John.

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/bunyan/pilgrim.txt

Institutes of the Christian Religion - Calvin, John.

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.txt

Journal - Fox, George.

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/fox_g/autobio.txt

Purity of Heart - Kierkegaard, Søren.

http://www.religion-online.org/showbook.asp?title=2523

A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life - Law A.M., William.

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/law/serious_call.txt

The Spiritual Exercises - Loyola, Ignatius.

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/ignatius/exercises.txt

Pensées - Pascal, Blaise.

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/pascal/pensees.txt

The Imitation of Christ - Thomas à Kempis.

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/kempis/imitation.txt

Journal of John Wesley - Wesley, Rev. John.

http://www.ccel.org/ccel/wesley/journal.txt

After you read any of the books listed here, please feel free to comment or encourage others to read the books you found to be a blessing. We also hope you will join us in our monthly discussions of the books we are reading as a Christian Book Club.

This month on the Christian Book Club we are reading The Shack by William P. Young.

This week we will be reading Chapters 5 - 9. We are moving in to the heart of the book. The first four chapters set the stage of the tragic events that cause the Great Sadness for Mack. I have found this book to be very well written. It has been one of those books that I look forward to reading. Some books I have to kind of force myself to read. I am usually glad that I did, but it different with a book like this. There is something that keeps me reading.

As you delve in to this weeks chapters (if you haven’t already, I read the book in about a three day span,) you will begin to see where the controversy comes from. Personally, I take no offense at the story. I wouldn’t teach it as theology, but I am able to separate story from theology. I would like to hear about what you think of the way the trinity is presented. How do you feel about Papa, Jesus and Sarayu? Are you intrigued or offended? Do you believe that God takes a personal interest in you? What do you think of the illustration of the garden and Mack’s soul? I look forward to your comments this week!

I will also include a link here in case you need to order a copy of the book.

The Shack