There is a load of buzz around books, isn't there?  I've always got a couple that I am reading, some of you love the audio-book thing because it's just easier (woohoo!) and with the best-seller lists always changing, there is something fresh out there every other week.  So what have you been reading lately?

Over the next few weeks we'll be highlighting various books ... some worth reading to learn, some just great classics to enjoy, and some worth avoiding.  Got recommendations?  Send them our way (click here to connect with us)..

I thought I'd start the review out with one that is "nice to enjoy", but not worth reading if you are interested in learning something about God: who He is and what He's like.  I thought we'd start by reviewing, "The Shack" by William Paul Young.

The Big Picture:
Mac is a grief-stricken father in mid-life about to have an extraordinary experience with God. His great sadness began four years ago on a weekend camping trip, when his 6-year-old daughter, Missy, was murdered. What he couldn't know then, but is about to learn, was God's purpose for Missy's death. Roger Mueller's clear, gentle voice characterizes Mac's family with high-spirited joy and laughter. His portrayal of Missy's animated excitement makes her especially believable. His polished performance of grief-stricken Mac brings tears. With empathy and sensitivity, Mueller captures the mysterious voices of those who have invited him to the now abandoned, yet transformed, cabin in the wilderness. This compelling fantasy explores themes of love, loss, and blame.

The Review:
This is a book that is best described as "warm and fuzzy".  You leave it feeling nice (must be a Canadian thing!).  You'll also leave it with some new views of God and the Trinity.  I've also found that it's a book that Christians either really love or really hate. 

Those who love it generally focus on the fictional story and the way it helps them to process pain in their lives.  They say things like, "I am one of the people who dislikes religious organizations, rarely goes to church, and have been unsure where a loving God fits into the dreadful things that go on in the world. I picked up this book by mistake, and read it with the intention of writing a harsh review advising others to save their money. It turns out that I was wrong. This is a very readable book, which addresses questions such as "Why did God let this happen?" and "Does God really have an interest in what goes on in the world?" without being preachy or pious." _{(taken from amazon.ca)}

Those who hate the book generally focus on the theology of God it contains (which they would say is also fictional).  They say things like, "Unfortunately when people read this book, they don't realize that the "gods" (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) are fictional. They are not the God, Jesus & Holy Spirit of the Scriptures. Those who say that Mr.Young has taken God out of the box are wrong. They are not the same! The book is made up of potshots at Christians, Christianity & the Bible. This is deception, big time!" _{(taken from amazon.ca)}

Here's what Mark Driscoll identifies as three of the big theological mistakes that the book makes in representing God:

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Final Thoughts:
This book sounds like it's a good piece of fictional writing with a fair amount of bad theology thrown in.  So, is it worth reading?  That depends on whether or not you can separate the bad from the good - something that most of us can't do very well at all.  A better book that covers the same topics and has some really good theology is "The Father Heart of God" by Floyd McClung _{(check it out here on amazon)}.  It's been around for a while and there's one in the church library and Dan has a copy too.  Grab one and enjoy!