Avoid the Will to Power

"Relationships are never about power, and one way to avoid the will to power is to choose to limit oneself - to serve. Humans often do this - in touching the infirm and sick, in serving the ones whose minds have left to wander, in relating to the poor, in loving the very old and the very young, or even in caring for the other who has assumed a position of power over them." (p. 107)

Don't lock the door of your heart...

"People are tenacious when it comes to the treasure of their imaginary independence. They hoard and hold their sickness with a firm grip. They find their identity and worth in their brokeness and guard it with every ounce of strength they have. No wonder grace has such little attraction. In that sense you have tried to lock the door of your heart from the inside." (p. 189)

Check your perceptions

"Paradigms power perception and perceptions power emotions. Most emotions are responses to perception - what you think is true about a given situation. If your perception is false, then your emotional response to it will be false too. So check your perceptions, and beyond that check the truthfulness of your paradigms - what you believe." (p. 197)

...and didn't let go...

"Jesus?" Mack whispered as his voice choked. "I feel so lost."

A hand reached out and squeezed his, and didn't let go. "I know Mack, but it's not true. I am with you and I'm not lost. I'm sorry it feels that way, but hear me clearly. You are not lost."

"I hope you're right," Mack said, his tension lessened by the words of his newfound friend.
(p. 114)

Into my Beloved

"Those who love me come from every system that exists. They were Buddhists or Mormons, Baptists or Muslims, Democrats, Republicans and many who don't vote or are not part of any Sunday morning or religious institutions... I have no desire to make them Christian, but I do want to join them in their transformation into sons and daughters of my Papa, into my brothers and sisters, into my Beloved." (p. 182)

Lies...Not Good.

"Take the risks of honesty. When you mess up again, ask for forgiveness again. It's a process, honey, and life is real enough without having to be obscured by lies. And remember, I am bigger than your lies. I can work beyond them. But that doesn't make them right and doesn't stop the damage they do or the hurt they cause others. " (p. 188)

Respond and Expectancy

"Then let's use your two words: responsibility and expectation. Before your words became nouns, they were first my words, nouns with movement and experience buried inside of them; the ability to respond and expectancy. My words are alive and dynamic - full of life and possibility; yours are dead, full of law and fear and judgment. That is why you won't find the word responsibility in the Scriptures." (p. 205)


Friends, I will be traveling and away from the computer until Monday morning. Please use this time to leave a comment below! Share with others how The Shack has positively affected you. (You don't have to give your name if you don't want to, just click on "Anonymous") See you back here on Monday!

"The Bible doesn't teach you to follow rules. It is a picture of Jesus. While words may tell you what God is like and even what he may want from you, you cannot do any of it on your own. Life and living is in him and in no other. My goodness, you didn't think you could live the righteousness of God on your own did you?" (p. 197-198)

An active union

"The human, formed out of the physical material Creation, can once more be fully indwelt by spiritual life, my life. It requires that a very real dynamic and active union exists." (p. 113)

Change from the Inside...

"Mackenzie, religion is about having the right answers, and some of their answers are right. But I am about the process that takes you to the living answer and once you get to him, he will change you from the inside." (p. 198)

Questions of the Heart

"It is true that relationships are a whole lot messier than rules, but rules will never give you answers to the deep questions of the heart and they will never love you." (p. 198)

FEAR NOT!!

"It is impossible for you to take power over the future because it isn't even real, nor will it ever be real. You try and play God, imagining the evil that you fear becoming reality, and then you try and make plans and contingencies to avoid that fear." (p. 142)

Your need and my heart...

"Stories about a person willing to exchange their life for another are a golden thread in your world, revealing both your need and my heart." (p. 185)

"Mackenzie, judgment is not about destruction, but about setting things right." Mack smiled. "I don't feel stuck anymore."

Absolutely Unique

"Each relationship between two persons is absolutely unique. That is why you cannot love two people the same. It simply is not possible. You love each person differently because of who they are and the uniqueness that they draw out of you. And the more you know another, the richer the colors of that relationship." (p. 213)

The wonder of your tears

"Oh child," Papa spoke tenderly. "Don't ever discount the wonder of your tears. They can be healing waters and a stream of joy. Sometimes they are the best words the heart can speak." (p. 228)

The love you sense from me...

"I am the best way any human can relate to Papa or Sarayu. To see me is to see them. The love you sense from me is no different from how they love you. And believe me, Papa and Sarayu are just as real as I am, though as you've seen in far different ways." (p. 110)

"When I am your life, submission is the most natural expression of my character and nature, and it will be the most natural expression of your new nature within relationships." (p. 146)

"Living unloved is like clipping a bird's wings and removing it's ability to fly. Not something I want for you." (p. 97)

Trinity of Terrors

"Like I said, I don't create institutions; that's an occupation for those who want to play God. So no, I'm not too big on religion," Jesus said a little sarcastically, "and not very fond of politics or economics either. And why should I be? They are the man-created trinity of terrors that ravages the earth and deceives those I care about. What mental turmoil and anxiety does any human face that is not related to one of those three?"

One, three, three, one...huh?

"We are not three gods, and we are not talking about one god with three attitudes, like a man who is a husband, father, and worker. I am one God and I am three persons, and each of the three is fully and entirely the one." (p. 101)

"If I take away the consequences of people's choices, I destroy the possibility of love. Love that is forced is no love at all." (p. 190)

Power destroys

"Our desire was to create a being that had a fully equal and powerful counterpart, the male and the female. But your independence with its quest for power and fulfillment actually destroys the relationship your heart longs for." (p. 148)