Exerpts from "The Shack" ... by William P. Young

ON RELATIONSHIP VERSUS PRINCIPLES AND RULES
...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. There are a lot of smart people who are able to say a lot of right things because they have been told what the right answers are, but they don't know Me at all. So really, how can their answers be right even if they are right, if you understand my drift? ...So even though they might be right, they are still wrong.

ON THE PRESENCE OF GOD
You might see Me in a piece of art, or music, or silence, or through people, or in Creation, or in your joy and sorrow. My ability to communicate is limitless, living and transforming, and it will always be tuned to Papa's goodness and love. And you will hear and see me in the Bible in fresh ways. Just don't look for rules and principles; look for relationship - a way of coming to be with Us [Papa, Jesus, Holy Spirit].

John 15: 27

"I am leaving you with a gift-peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid."

Ephesians 2:8-9

For it is by grace you have been saved through faith-and this not of yourselves, but it is a gift from God-not by works, so that none may boast.

Proverbs 18:24

A man of many companions comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 30:31

Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Heart Struggles

HIS NAME IS JESUS. the Lord Almighty, the Lord of my heart, the King of Glory. Please save me from myself. I thank you for letting me die to myself so that I can live with you. there is no comparison. but i still push away those i love. i love you and you know the man i care about. HELP ME DO THE RIGHT THING, YOUR WAY. whatever that might be. please. help me.

insights from marky

I have learned that when I say or think things like, "i am a horrible person, no one should be my friend" and "if someone is friends with me then they must not be that good of a person" i am devaluing my friends. when i can't love myself for who i am and i think no one should love me, i am basically saying that God is wrong because He loves me. Who am i to second guess God... if God loves me I must be extremely special.