"The Shack" - Life Lessons & Insights #5

LESSONS FROM THE SHACK
PART 5

Review of Lesson #4
How people may respond when we tell them we are dealing with our pain... our past.. going on a healing journey:

1. Why do you even want to go back there?
2. why now?
3. People question whether you are hearing from God
4. Warnings
5. God doesn't do stuff like that
6. They will offer to go with us.. and they sort of do.. but.. they don't experience it with you...
7. They offer protection...(possibly go after those who hurt you)

Challenges we Face:

1. Panic
2. Avoidance
3. Repressed Feelings & Fears Come Up
4. Temptation to Quit
5. Flashbacks – visual memory & fury came in waves
6. Time seems to slow down
7. Negative Self-talk about your decision
8. Barriers to press through
9. Feel sick! – emotionally, mentally, sometimes even physically
10. Challenged with choices
11. Question our choices
12. Spiritual Warfare
13. Legitimate & False Guilt
14. Escape Options – go back to what you always did for relief
15. Question the ‘realness’ of it… the healing has begun.. transformation has begun. Everything around us begins to change.





LESSONS FROM THE SHACK
PART 5
Page 81 - 84

LET THE HEALING BEGIN

Mack thought he was losing his mind.. This isn’t real.. can’t be happening.. What he saw was a place he could only imagine in his dreams.. However, interestingly, the scents and images brought back some long-stored remembrances of his own childhood.

He walked back to the shack .. once on the porch, he heard voices inside.. part of him wanted to just run away but the other part knew if God was really here.. he couldn’t run from Him anyway.. He shook his head again thinking that would bring his mind back to reality.. this must not be real.. he touched the wood railing to see if he could feel it to confirm ‘realness’. Ok.. so his next dilemma was.. if you are coming to a house/ a door where God might be.. what do you do? Knock? God already knows you're there.. He’s God! Should one just walk in.. introduce yourself?.. hmm.. even that seems absurd… Should you call him Mr. God?.. Almighty One? – what do you do? Fall on your face, your knees? He wasn’t in the mood for that…

As he went through this dialogue in his head, the anger he thought had died inside him began to emerge once again… so.. he walks up to the door and decides to bang on it loudly to see what would happen… just as he raised his fist, the door flew open and a large beaming African-American woman was looking directly into his face. She then engulfed him in her arms, lifted him clear off this feet spinning him around like a little child shouting his name “Mackenzie Allen Philips” – saying it like you would when seeing a long-lost, deeply-loved relative.
Has anyone - a parent - every called out your entire name.. hmmm.. if you had experiences like me.. if my mom yelled all of my names at once.. it wasn't good.. *grin* But not in this case.... This woman finally put Mack down and pushed him back to get a good look at him.. “Look at you, all grown up”, etc.. and then.. “my, my, my how I do love you!”… wrapped herself around him again..

How would you react? Let’s get some insights from this portion of the book and questions to ask ourselves:

So.. we start seeing things differently.. we’ve had this experience (last talk/lesson) where we finally get some things out.. we are broken, spent, drained.. then.. all of a sudden things start looking different.. our senses seem to be coming to life.. things are different.. then.. we go back to meet with God again.. after that outburst – remember.. Mack expressed a ton of anger… so.. if we do the same (anger, sin, disappointments, pain, fear, rage).. then what? What is it like to approach God again after that? Maybe we go through some of the same things Mack did.

In our minds we dialogue.... when I approach.. what do a say? What should I call Him? Mr. God The Almighty.. fall on our face.. knees, worship…. We want to run.. but we choose not to.. why? At this point we know.. just like the disciples “where can we run.. where can we go? SCRIPTURE… John 6:67-69 (New International Version)
"You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God."
Psalm 139:7-11 (New International Version) Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, [a] you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.


So we stand still.. sit still.. and before we know it.. God appears on the scene.. Eager to see us – holding us.. saying our name (Scripture).. Isaiah 43:1But now, this is what the LORD says— he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
Isaiah 45:3I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.
Isaiah 45:4For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me.
John 10:2-4 (New International Version)
2The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.

Picture in your mind what was taking place here… can you see it? Can you hear the joy – how God is delighted to see Mack.. He delights in seeing you.. holding you.. what we see is a very childlike experience here… that is difficult for many of us? Why? We have lost the ability to be childlike.. somewhere along the way life became way too serious.. for some of us.. it became very serious when we were children.. we did not enjoy the normal innocence and playfulness we should have experienced in our homes.. so we struggle with this concept… Or perhaps.. we don’t understand the difference between being childish and childlike…

DEFINE -- CHILDISH vs. childlike
Childish: Marked by or indicating a lack of maturity; puerile: tired of your childish pranks.
Affected mentally by old age; senile

child·like Like or befitting a child, as in innocence, trustfulness, or candor.

exhibiting childlike simplicity ; "childlike trust"; "dewy-eyed innocence"; "listened in round-eyed wonder"
a. Resembling a child, meek; submissive; dutiful
b. Note: Childlike, as applied to persons grown up, is commonly in a good sense; as, childlike grace or simplicity; childlike modesty.

Jesus said: Matthew 11:25 "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.
Matthew 18:3And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Expressions of love… “saying his/our name.. my my.. let me look at you.. ‘oh how I love you’..

1. We are speechless in those moments… ever been there? We feel like we have messed up so bad or.. said the wrong thing to God one too many times.. surely He will reject us – abandon us now…
Deuteronomy 31:6Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you."
Deuteronomy 31:8The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."


Back to Mack and this woman, in a few seconds, she had crossed every line.. every wall of protection Mack had in place.. There was something about the way she looked at him.. yelled his name… somehow it made him feel equally delighted to see her too.... even tho he had no clue who she was!!!

Suddenly he was overwhelmed by the scent coming from her.. a mixture of flowers like gardenia and jasmine… it was unmistakably his mother's perfume that he kept hidden away in his little tin box. He was already fighting intense emotion and with this scent came a flood of memories that staggered him.. He could feel the warmth of his tears beginning to gather behind his eyes… just then he heard the words “it’s ok honey you can let it all out…I know you’ve been hurt, you’re angry and confused”…even tho Mack couldn’t stop the tears from filing his eyes, he just was not wiling to let go.. really let it out… the tears.. the pain… This woman stood there with arms outstretched inviting him in.. as if they were the arms of his mother.. He felt the presence of love…but was frozen.. couldn’t move.. couldn’t allow himself to fully feel… She responded to him.. “not ready.. that’s ok.. we will do things on your terms and in your time”..

What does this mean for us?
This woman had crossed every self-protective wall in that moment.. Ever have that experience with God before? Somehow God goes beyond our defense mechanisms and we are able to put them aside.. even if it is just for a moment. How did God do that in this case?

The senses..? Have you ever had an experience where you had a scent trigger emotion that reminded you of someone or some place – negative or positive? In this case.. the scent of Mack’s mother’s perfume.. God used it to soften him… (examples) discuss aroma therapy.. lavender –calming- think God could use his creation to impact us? I think so!

Mack was fighting the tears.
Sometimes we do too.. don’t we?.. and if we are responsive and listen and stay open.. God will find a way to break through..
Then of course.. once our defenses are down.. we are invited to let it out.. let the hurt and disappointment out.. tears are healing to the soul..

Another big lesson to learn from this portion of the book.. will be dealt with in detail much later …but, we might as well deal with it now.. Why in the world do we see a representation of God in this book as a ‘mother figure’?…
I want to remind you: God is genderless… We are made in his image.. that would be the fullness of maleness and the fullness of femaleness is God.. Genesis “ 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. NLT 27 So God created human beings[b] in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

So.. God has the fullness of mothering and fathering.. He is both… and.. He is the perfect father and mother.. He is the perfect parent… There are reasons we will see later that Mack needed to meet God in this way.. but.. lets start here by looking at some Biblical texts that show us this nurturing, motherly character of our loving God:

Isaiah 49:15"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!
Isaiah 49:15 (Amplified Bible)[And the Lord answered] Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yes, they may forget, yet I will not forget you.
Matthew 23:37 – this is Jesus talking.."O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.

Matthew 23:37 (Amplified Bible) O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, murdering the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a mother fowl gathers her brood under her wings, and you refused!
Zephaniah 3:17The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
Zephaniah 3:17 (Amplified Bible)
17The Lord your God is in the midst of you, a Mighty One, a Savior [Who saves]! He will rejoice over you with joy; He will rest [in silent satisfaction] and in His love He will be silent and make no mention [of past sins, or even recall them]; He will exult over you with singing.

Life Application of this Lesson:

a. If you are angry - express it.. even if it is toward God... – express everything that is inside you.. let it out… express your disappointments as well as how you believe you have disappointed others and God…

b. Don't allow shame or guilt to keep you from approaching God after you have thrown your fit! He is waiting... just approach the door and he will enthusiastically invite you in!

c. Come to Him with a childlike disposition and allow Him to nurture you/delight in you.

This is the beginning of a new life-long intimacy with God IF you will embrace the truth and reality of who God really is.







GROUP WORK
LESSONS FROM THE SHACK
PART 5 – Pages 81-84


THE HEALING HAS BEGUN...

1. Have you ever questioned the healing God has done in a certain area of your life/seems too good to be true? Share.

2. Share about a time when you were fearful or hesitant in approaching the Lord after something happened in your life (a bad choice, attitude, expression of anger toward others or Him).


3. What is your reaction to how Mack was treated when the door was opened?


4. Share about a time or your anticipated need and desire to experience the nurturing character of God.

Series Challenge: Read the Shack

"The Shack" - Personal Insights & Life Lessons #4

LESSONS FROM THE SHACK
PART 4

Review from prior weeks - topics covered:

1. How does God speak to us?
2. How do we know it's Him?
3. How do we prepare to hear from God?

Week #2:
1. Will God ever make me jump? What do you need to die to?

2. What is Your image of God and is it connected to your earthly father like Mack's?
3. What about your story -- Are you hiding some things about your story because of fear? Are you like Mack – you share some of it and then distract yourself from the reality and pain of it? Who are you sharing your story with?

WEEK #3:
There are different ways people deal with pain & tragedy…

- drown it (alcohol, drugs, sex, etc)
- run from it
- withdraw
- keep in mind that...dealing with pain or avoiding it can lead to depression –difference between clinical depression and situational depression
- anger
· reach out (healthy)
Romans 12:15 NIV
- struggle with guilt & regret:
Play the If only game:

Potential Negative Impacts of Tragedy:
- wall yourself off from pain – self-protection strategies
- creates a rift between you and others
- creates a rift between you and God

Healthy Response to Tragedy:
Nan Example -- This can only happen with the kind of relationship Nan has with God – Papa Draw close to God.. didn't run from pain… Nan sought the truth in God's word and hearing His voice….

LESSONS FROM "THE SHACK"

PART 4

The Great Sadness Chapter 4 – "Sadness is a wall between two gardens." - Kahlil Gibran


Chapter 5 - Begins with 3 plausible explanations for the note -
1. It was from God
2. It was a cruel joke
3. It was a sinister plan from Missy's killer

The note dominated Mack's thoughts (expound). Have you ever struggled with obsessive thoughts? Something intrudes on your day-to-day activities .. no matter how hard you try.. you can't stop thinking about it.. trying to figure it out.

Secretly, Mack began to plan a trip to the shack the following weekend. He told no one.. not even Nan (do we share with others when we are going to go into our pain?)
Mack said "I am keeping it to myself for Nan’s sake" besides, acknowledging the note would mean admitting that he had kept secrets from her; secrets he still justified in his own mind. He thought.. 'Sometimes honesty can be incredibly messy'.. (rationalize)
It all worked out for him... Nan planned a trip to her sister's.. which worked out perfectly for Mack and his plans.
On the sly, Mack called up his friend Willie and made arrangements to borrow his 4 wheel drive jeep since Nan was taking the van .. he needed something better than his small car to navigate the pitted roads in the Reserve which were more than likely still buried in snow.


As soon as Nan and the kids were on their way, Mack began his preparations for the long dive to Northeastern Oregon -- to the place of his nightmares. He reasoned that he wouldn't need to take too much if God had sent him the note, but just in case, he loaded up a cooler with much more than enough for the miles he would be traveling as well as the other necessities like a sleeping bag, etc....

When his friend Willie showed up, he had many questions of course... Mack didn't want to tell him but knew there was no use lying to his friend.. and he needed his jeep which Willie said he wouldn't give him the keys to until he told him exactly what was going on. So .. he told him... I'm going back to the Shack..

Following are responses from Willie (W).. but they are lessons for us on how people may respond when we tell them we are going to deal with our pain... our past.. going on a healing journey:

1. W -why do you even want to go back there? Ever have anyone think you were crazy or that you were doing something unChristian by dealing with your pain and the past?

2. W - why this time of year? (why now) People will convince you it's not a good time.. if you let them... out of concern for you of course.. But.. what is God telling you?

3. After sharing the note with him.. W - what kind of loony kook would write you something like this? and.. who is Papa? You aren't really thinking this is God are you? (people question whether you are hearing from God - did you really hear his voice?) God sometimes works in ways we do not understand and those around us certainly don't understand so they question to a fault.
Mack's response.. I know it sounds crazy but somehow I feel strangely drawn to find out for sure.. I have to go... or it'll drive me nuts forever.

4. W - have you thought this might be the killer? Warnings from friends... legit? maybe not M- only God would have the kind of information given on that note..

5. W - God doesn't do stuff like that? (ever have someone challenge you on something because they have never experienced it? - it's not specifically in the Bible word for word so they challenge you) Mack - Willie.. I would like to believe that God would care enough about me to send me a note.. do what he needed to do to get my attention.. I am so confused even after all this time and it is getting worse instead of better (example). I feel like we're losing Kate and that's killing me. maybe what happened was God's judgment for what I did to my own dad (ex). I don't know.. "all I know is that I need to go back' ……after silence....

6. W - so when do we leave? friends will offer to go with us.. and they sort of do.. but.. they don't experience it with you... M - thanks buddy but I really need to do this alone. It's true - dealing with your pain is a very personal, between you and God kind of thing. We need others to support, pray and encourage us but they cannot feel or deal with it for us.

7. W - gave him a pistol and box of shells (protection).. using violence to solve a problem always landed Mack in a worse problem.(go after those who hurt you). so.. let’s look at this positively and say it can be changed to …and offer of PRAYER

8. W’s last question.. not an offer or a challenge.. curiosity.. so.. what do you think He I(God) looks like? Mack grinned at the thought… maybe he’s a bright light, a burning bush, maybe he looks like a really big grandpa with a long white flowing beard.. kinda like Gandalf in the Lord of the Rings

Finally Willie offered encouragement and prayer… and Mack knew he would keep his word.. he was a good friend who kept his word.. and certainly Mack knew he needed all the prayer he could get! After that… Willie left and Mack headed to bed for a ‘sleepless night’… Have any of those? When you decided to come to LifeCare – get into counseling.. deal with the issues in your life?

The next pages in the book give us a clear picture of some of the challenges we face when we make that decision..

Mack retraced the same path him and his kids had taken three and a half years before knowing that he was going to face the emotions & thoughts he had securely padlocked in the basement of his own heart…

Challenges we Face:

1. Panic M felt it .. penetrated his consciousness
2. Avoidance he kept trying to push the thoughts away about what he was doing and going to do
3. Repressed Feelings & Fears Come Up – he expressed it like: grass pushing through concrete
4. Temptation to Quit – every off ramp – turn around and go home- knew he was driving straight into the center of his pain.. the vortex of the Great Sadness that had diminished his sense of being alive (we want to run from it - it is natural to have that desire - who in their right mind would want to run INTO pain)
5. Flashbacks – visual memory & fury came in waves - remembering and seeing the scenes from the past in your mind
6. Time seems to slow down - will I ever get there? will it ever get better?
7. Negative Self-talk about your decision (times you say things in your head that attempt to talk yourself out of it and make you think you are crazy for trying and trusting)
8. Barriers to press through (there are times we seem to be stuck - we must press through)
9. Feel sick! – emotionally, mentally, sometimes even physically
10. Challenged with choices – Help me! reach for God.. reach for what can motivate you to continue – Remember...why you are doing this – Mack remembered by looking at a picture of Missy - desire for resolution, healing, a better future for him and his family
11. Distraction – every step took concentration - we have to stay focused on the goal and the path
12. Question our choices – a. things start feeling they are getting worse instead of better – Mack– wrong path – forest seemed to be closing in around him b. is this really worth it? we doubt that we are really going to heal..Mack - said he came all this way for nothing
13. Spiritual Warfare – M – shack looked dead, empty, seemed to transform into an evil face.. in a demonic grimace.. daring him to approach.. Mack – pressed on – do it afraid! Fight! - use your armor in Ephesians 6!
14. Legitimate & False Guilt – express Anger – toward the perpetrator, the situation, toward God, toward self – Mack let all out.. til he was spent.. in a heap on the floor
15. Question God’s existence and His goodness
16. Escape Options – go back to what you always did for relief.. (back to Egypt) Suicide looks like an option - a way out of the pain (Mack even said it would be one way to strike back at God – if God even existed) – He was exhausted and fell asleep.. woke up..as he was walking away from the Shack… something began to change..
17. Question the ‘realness’ of it… the healing has begun.. transformation has begun… Mack as he was walking away from the shack and that emotional experience – everything around him began to change.. flowers – like spring in the woods… He couldn't believe what he was seeing, experiencing.



GROUP WORK
LESSONS FROM THE SHACK
PART 4


1. Discuss the ways your friends and family responded to you when you made the decision to work through pain, tragedy or hurt in your past? Were there similarities to how Willie responded to Mack? Which were similar?

2. Discuss the challenges Mack faced while on his journey to the Shack. Share which you have encountered and those you had to break through in order to continue.

3. Share your reaction to how Mack talked to God and expressed his anger. Why do you think this might be a necessary step to healing?


Series Challenge: Read the Shack

"The Shack" - Personal Insights & Life Lessons #3

LESSONS FROM THE SHACK
PART 3


Review

The Tipping Point C3

C3 – 2nd half – starts the morning of their last day at the camp site with lots of fun festivities. Kate & Josh after finishing up their chores.. asked for one last canoe trip in the water.. they went…. Missy was busy coloring at a nearby picnic table while Mack continued to pack up the site. A few moments later – Kate & Josh paddled by.. yelling and waving to their father… suddenly the canoe flipped – Mack ran immediately to the water… Kate quickly came up – both her and Josh had their life jackets on.. Frantic by this point seeing that Josh had not surfaced, mack jumped in to find his son.. his life jacket strap had gotten caught on the canoe netting - eventually Mack was able to get him lose..by pushing the canoe over – only realizing later that he had to have had help from some angels… once on shore, he immediately began mouth-to-mouth on his son..Josh finally began to cough, throw up.. breathe again.. All the other campers in the vicinity had come to help.. and everyone began to cry, laugh and hug knowing that everyone was again safe and sound……… a potential crisis had been averted… or so Mack thought…

After all the commotion had passed, Mack realized Missy was nowhere in sight.. back to the picnic table.. where she had been coloring earlier.. no Missy… A huge search followed.. everyone in the camp joined the search… then the police were called in.. clues were found and discussed .. including someone who saw a green truck and a man with a little girl in a red dress….. Mack felt paralyzed.. sick.. back at the picnic table they found a small ladybug pin . stuck through some pages of the coloring book. The pin pointed to a man called the ‘littlelady killer’.. abducted and killed 4 girls so far… each time.. he adds a dot to the ladybug and leaves it behind.
After investigating and tracking.. they finally found something and asked Mack to come to identify what they found.
They drove him to a small shack..deep in the woods.. There in the shack on the floor by the fireplace lay Missy’s torn blood-soaked red dress.
For Mack, the next few days and weeks were an emotion-numbing blur! The littlelady killer was now credited with taking his firth victim, Missy Anne Phillips… The remaining pages in this chapter give us a glimpse into how people deal with suffering, tragedy, pain, emotion.

Mack at some point attempted to emerge from his own grief to be there for his wife and children. He was very concerned about Kate who seemed to have been affected the most…

I. There are different ways people deal with pain

1. drown it (Ever hear this question from other believers when they are going through painful experiences? - "What do people do without Jesus in these painful times?" "I cannot imagine getting through this without the Lord". Well... I'll tell you exactly what they do: they drink, they drug, have sex, shop, work - anything to drown out pain and reality if only for a moment).

2. run from it (avoid/pretend it doesn't exist, move away, distract with something, relationship, etc)

What did Kate do? What do we do oftentimes?

3. withdraw… why? fear of pain confusion False guilt – Why did Kate feel guilty? She felt responsible for the canoe fiasco.. if that hadn’t happened, Missy would still be alive were her thoughts

4. dealing with pain or avoiding it can lead to depression – explain difference between clinical depression (get stuck- physiological) and situational depression (move through it - based on circumstances - normal response)
5. anger

What about Josh?
6. Josh reached out.. he made phone calls.. communicated through e-mail.. shared his feelings – an outlet for his grief was friends… friends who gave him time and space to grieve.
Romans 12:15 NIV Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

Dealing with the pain as a couple: Mack & Nan – they weathered the loss together.. and in some ways were closer for it eventually.

Individually: Mack – struggled with guilt even though Nan made it very clear from the start she did not blame him in any way… it took much longer for Mack to let himself off the hook… He was getting stuck in the …."if only" game that was a slippery slide into despair which is another way people deal with tragedy..

Play the "If Only" game (get stuck in regret):
- IO he had decided not to take the kids on that trip
- IO he had said no when they asked to use the canoe
- IO he had left the day before
- IO IO IO

II. Potential Negative Impacts of Tragedy
1. wall yourself off from pain – self-protection strategies (withhold our heart and emotions)
2. creates a rift between you and others
3. creates a rift between you and God

Mack – created an even greater rift than the one that already existed between him and God. Mack just ignored this growing sense of separation.. he embraced a stoic, unfeeling faith… and even tho he found some comfort and peace in that kind of faith, it never stopped the nightmares where his feet were stuck in the mud and his soundless screams could not save his precious Missy. The dreams were becoming more infrequent after a few years and moments of laughter and joy were returning but… he felt guilty when they did.


So…. Back to Chapter 1 – when Mack rec’d the note from Papa telling him to meet back at the shack, it was no small event. His thoughts – Does God even write notes? Why in the world would he want to meet me at the shack – the icon of my deepest pain? Ever been there? there is a haunting.. you know that God keeps asking you to go back in your mind to a place of pain? Where you were hurt... Where you were left confused…….. not understanding why.

Mack's mind went to other places… perhaps this was a cruel joke… perhaps it was a set up by the murderer.. to do him harm or to lure him away from his family to harm them? What kind of thoughts do you have when God asks you to do something that seems out of the ordinary.. you don’t get it.. or you don’t want to do it? Could it be our self talk getting in the way from our prior experiences.? Or.. perhaps it is spiritual warfare ..
(1 Peter 5:8 NIV
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
the enemy does not want you to deal with any of this.. he definitely doesn’t want any rift to be dealt with bet. us and God. (enemy of our souls).

Fight by: James 4:7 NIV
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Back to Mack....Try as he might, he couldn’t escape the desperate possibility that the note could have really come from God – even if passing notes didn’t sit well with his theological background and training.. He was taught in seminary that God had stopped any overt communication… the only way he spoke was through the sacred Scriptures.. God’s voice had been reduced to paper and even that paper had to be deciphered by the proper authorities and intellects.

The more Mack tried to figure things out.. the more he thought about all of this .... the more confused and irritated he became? Been there?
But.. in spite of his anger and depression, Mack knew he needed some answers. He was stuck. Sunday prayers and hymns weren’t cutting it anymore.(if they ever really had). Been there?
Cloistered.. organized spirituality/ religion seemed to change nothing in the lives of the people he knew.. except maybe Nan. But she was special…God might really love her. She wasn’t a screw up like Mack. Ever had these kind of thoughts?

Mack was sick of God and God’s religion.. sick of all the little religious social clubs that didn’t seem to matter or make a difference or affect any real changes. Mack wanted more… hmmm (Proverbs 8:17 NIV
I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.

Jeremiah 29:13 NIV
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Isaiah 1:18 NIV
"Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD. "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

Come with our complaints, our anger, our huts, our sin...

Yes.. Mack wanted more and he was about to get much more than he bargained for…..

III. Healthy Response to Tragedy:

This can only happen with the kind of relationship Nan has with God – Papa I believe she drew close to God.. didn’t run from her pain… sought the truth out in God’s word and hearing His voice…. Listening and allowing words like Psalm 18:28 "You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light."... to touch her heart… and…Psalm 73:26 "My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever." John 16:33 Jesus said, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Nahum 1:7 "The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him?




The Great Sadness C4 – “Sadness is a wall between two gardens.” - Kahlil Gibran

What do the gardens represent? What is the wall of sadness?

www.lifecarechristiancenter.org


GROUP WORK
LESSONS FROM THE SHACK
PART 3

1. Discuss the different ways the family members responded to tragedy. Which do you relate to the most?

2. Discuss the potential negative impacts of tragedy. Have you experienced any of these? Share.

3. What was Mack fighting against in his own mind when considering God’s invitation to the shack?

4. Share Scriptures that may have been instrumental in helping you through difficulties in this past year.



Series Challenge: Read the Shack

"The Shack" - Personal Insights & Life Lessons #2

LESSONS FROM THE SHACK
PART 2


We begin this section with the family camping trip – Mackenzie, Kate, Missy & Josh (Nan, Mack's wife did not come)

Mack tucked the kids in – said prayers… Missy started asking questions about a story they had discussed earlier about the Multnomah princess… an Indian legend.. legend of a legend was told about a village that was dying off due to an incurable disease.. They heard (as part of the legend) that they were to sacrifice one of their own to the ‘great spirit’ in order for him to be appeased and stop the sickness. They decided not to follow through with this since there was no assurance that it was true… however, the young princess… after her husband-to-be fell ill--loved him so much she made the decision to be the sacrifice and made her way to the cliff .. jumping without hesitation to her death. The next morning, those who had been sick were well and strong. There is much more to the story but when Mack told it.. he used it as an opportunity to point out the elements of a true redemption story.. yes.. the story of Jesus that his children knew so well.. Because of the princess’ love of her betrothed and her tribe, she willingly gave up her life..

At tucking in time.. Missy asked “daddy, how come she had to die?”… He said.. “she didn’t have to die.. she chose to die to save her people. And then questions from Kate “did it really happen. Is it true?.. Mack spoke – “I don’t know.. it’s a legend.. sometimes legends are stories that teach a lesson”.. So.. is the story of Jesus dying a legend? No.. it is true… many more questions ensued.. Missy ended with a deep question.. "will I ever have to jump off a cliff?” .. Mack of course pulling her close said.. "no.. I will never ever ask you to jump off a cliff”… her response.. “then.. will God?” No.. he would never ask you to do anything like that….. Mack zipped up the trailer on his way out, blew his nose and wiped away the tears that still remained on his cheeks. He prayed a silent thanks to God and then went to make himself some coffee.

Will God ever make me jump off a cliff?

What is the message here for us? Not just the obvious sacrifice that Jesus made in death for our sins.. and for a life abundant… but.. what if God asked you to jump off a cliff? Why would He ask you/me to do so? Symbolism of…
- dying to self
*die for God (serve, be His hands & feet - His heart)
*die for others (use me - we go thru things to benefit others at times)

So.. it's not physical death we're talking about .. no.. What is it that we need to die to? Apostle Paul said.. "I die daily".. what does that mean?.. 1Corinthians 15: 30"And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? I die every day—I mean that, brothers—just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."[dAMPLIFIED 30[For that matter], why do I live [dangerously as I do, running such risks that I am] in peril every hour?
31[I assure you] by the pride which I have in you in [your [e]fellowship and union with] Christ Jesus our Lord, that I die daily [I face death every day and die to self].

What is the cliff he jumped off?.. the cliff of success, education, status.. Phil 3 7"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead."

7-11. "What things were gain (to my profit) to me. These things which were counted as a gain he now counts as nothing; --loss, instead of gain for Christ. Paul realizes that Instead of saving him, a trust in his gains – his success would have been eternal ruin. 8. I count all things but loss. In comparison with the value of the knowledge of Christ, all worldly things are to be regarded as a loss. For whom I have suffered the loss of all things. In accepting Christ he gave up all the world holds dear. " But he did not long for them; --he counted them as a he would count filth/rubbish – literal translation is dung!!!!
9. And be found in him. In him "there is no condemnation" (Rom. 8:1). Not having my own righteousness. Those in Christ don’t trust a legal righteousness, obtained by keeping the law, but in the righteousness which the gospel provides to those who accept Christ through faith. That righteousness is the forgiveness of sins, which is of God by faith. Note that, although the definite article is omitted in our Versions before faith, the Greek supplies it. "The faith" is equivalent to "the gospel." It is faith in Christ acted upon, causing an acceptance and steadfast obedience to Christ, which secures the righteousness (forgiveness) of which Paul speaks. 10. That I may know him. By enjoying his presence in the soul; an experiential knowledge. And the power of his resurrection. The resurrection that demonstrated him to be the Son of God.. The mighty power that worked in his resurrection works in the saints. That’s us! (1) in their resurrection from spiritual death to a new life (Col. 2:13; Eph. 1:19-23). It is therefore a present power.
And the fellowship of his sufferings. Christ's life is the life plan for all of us. Like him, we take the cross, are crucified with him (Rom. 6:6) If the obedience is from the heart, there is a sharing of his sufferings. --- sufferings that are not of Christ: I have personally known individuals that say "this is my cross to bear" and they use it as an excuse to not act in a given situation (confronting an abusive parent, spouse, etc), setting boundaries, or it is a health issue that can be helped through personal changes in lifestyle – Sometimes we are suffering the consequences of our own bad choices but we still want to place blame on God – What does it mean to be crucified with Christ? What is taking up our cross daily? When I am crucified with Christ, my personality is infused with the character of Christ - I don't disappear. I can fully come into myself how God created me to be. This is not a one time, once and for all event - I must/you must die daily! We have to die to self over and over again all day long.....in order to be in God's perfect will. That is taking up our cross.. crucifying our wants and desires and allowing them to line up with His.

11. If by any means I might attain to the resurrection from the dead. This great consummation of a glorious resurrection to a heavenly life is worth attaining by every sacrifice, and by every possible means.

What do we die to? We die to our dreams.. our desires.. our wants.. our comforts.. we die to our goals… our past.. our present.. our future……. However… in our dying.. we find life!!! Hang on saints.. get excited…. Remember.. there must always be a death before there is resurrection!!! There have been times in my own life where God has had me put something on the alter - willing to give it up -- only to return it to me. These can be tests.. tests of our willingness to truly follow Him no matter what sacrifice He asks of us. In the end.. we always win because being in His perfect will is the only place we will ever find that perfect peace, contentment and joy!

Chapter 3 gives us a glimpse into Mack’s past.. He makes friends with folks that are at the camp site and during one conversation they discuss his wife, Nan, and what she does for a living.. She’s a nurse and works with cancer patients who are terminal… she writes and speaks at conferences.. They ask Mack -- "What does she speak on? " "She helps people think through their relationship with God in the face of their own death"

Of course.. they wanted to hear more about this.. but Mack was beginning to get uncomfortable.. He responded.. "Nan’s a lot better at that than I am. I guess she thinks about God differently than most. She even calls him Papa because of the closeness they have… the kids are comfortable with calling God that but I’m not.. it seems a little too familiar for me.. anyway, Nan has a wonderful father, so I think It’s just easier for her. "

Oops.. slipped out… Mack inwardly shuddered… knowing he had somehow exposed his own ‘stuff’ by his comments… “your dad wasn’t too wonderful?”… "I guess you could say that.. died when I was a kid.. He drank himself to death." He forced a laugh.. "life is hard sometimes, but I have a lot to be thankful for."
An awkward silence followed…. Eventually the silence was disturbed by the flurry of children as they entered the scene.

What can we learn from this?

1. Our image of God often times comes from our earthly father – Nan vs. Mack Nan had a very personal, intimate relationship with God - she called him Papa
2. It’s uncomfortable to tell our story – we feel: vulnerable, weak, different than anyone else, we are afraid – afraid of being misunderstood, judged, rejected
3. We try to hide the impact and pain of our story – Mack laughed.. he moved his words from the pain very quickly (to distract himself-keep from feeling) to what he is thankful for
4. An awkward silence followed.. the people in the midst of hearing such a story.. are at a loss on how to deal with it.. (don’t be Job’s friends – try to figure it out.. place blame)

Why share our story?

The Gathering Dark Chapter 2 quote– “Nothing makes us so lonely as our secrets." – Paul Tornier.. We are as sick as our secrets

Review:
1. Will God ever make me jump? – What do you need to die to?

2. What is Your image of God and is it connected to your earthly father like Mack’s?

3. What about your story -- Are you hiding some things about your story because of fear? Are you like Mack – you share some of it and then distract yourself from the reality and pain of it? Who are you sharing your story with? I hope you are finding LifeCare a safe place to do so… one thing we challenge you on around here if you are new: give it six weeks, if you are not fully satisfied at the end of the six weeks, we will refund your misery!!

C3 – Part 2 – starts the morning after with lots of fun festivities… with a potential crisis averted… or so Mack thought…

GROUP WORK
LESSONS FROM THE SHACK
PART 2


1. Share what you can relate to in the first section of the talk on Chapter 2 about dying to something. What is God asking of you? What is your cliff?
2. What is your personal ‘take away’ from the bullet points on Mack sharing a portion of his story?
a. Our image of God often times comes from our earthly father – Nan vs. Mack
b. It’s uncomfortable to tell our story – we feel: vulnerable, weak, different than anyone else, we are afraid – afraid of being misunderstood, judged, rejected
c. We try to hide the impact and pain of our story
d. An awkward silence followed


Series Challenge: Read the Shack

"The Shack" - Personal Insights & Life Lessons - #1 (updated 1/17)

"The Shack" - people hear the title of this book and the reactions are varied. Some are hesitant, some are disturbed, some are intrigued, some are thrilled! When I listened to the testimony of the author and was encouraged to read this book, I was curious so I read it. Since then, I have come to realize that this fictional book has many life lessons and could be of value to every human being. Because of this conclusion, I made the decision to do a series at LifeCare on the topic which I am currently presenting on Thursday nights. I have been contacted by others who want to hear my opinions and thoughts so I am going to take a stab at this new 'blog thing' that I have never attempted before, so my studies and thoughts can be shared with others. I hope you find these pages helpful which will be posted from our LifeCare lessons each week. At the end of the lesson, there are discussion questions that we use in our discussion groups so feel free to use them in a group setting or for your own personal review and reflection. God bless you as you study and may you come to know Him more intimately because of these pages. Love in Christ, Lillian p.s. these are my personal notes and outline so don't expect an edited, well written manuscript.. :-) *grin*

LESSONS FROM THE SHACK
PART 1


DVD – "March of the Penguins" - scene where the mother penguins return and are reunited with their young

Intro – what does this movie – MOTP have to do with the Shack? You will see……..


Read intro from pages 12 & 13 -- Disclaimer in the Foreword - read paragraph 3-5

The Shack lets us look into the life of a man named Mackenzie Allen Philips (Mack) – His relationship with God, His healing process, His questions, struggles, heart ache and victories. The beginning pages of chapter 1 is where we will camp out tonight.

The chapter opens with this quote by Larry Norman: “2 roads diverged in the middle of my life, I heard a wise man say.. I took the road less traveled by and that’s made the difference every night and every day”…
The road less traveled.. what exactly does that mean? My thoughts: not many take that road.. I believe that road is the road 'into the deep' - the deep parts of ourselves and the road that takes us deep into the heart of God. Not many believers are experiencing spiritual maturity. Not many are experiencing freedom. Why? they are choosing to take the other road.. the road that is traveled often.. the road that is easier, filled with performance, pretence, ignoring or running from pain, memories, lies....instead of facing them, embracing them, dealing with them and ultimately experiencing healing from them. The road less traveled is a difficult road but it is a road that when traveled, it so worth it! Mack Philips chose that road and it made all the difference in his life... and and for you as well.

The opening scene is an ice storm.. Mack is home alone – his wife Nan and children are away… he talks about how the feeling of being an ice prisoner was somewhat of a delight an invited change of pace. Storms interrupt life …. Businesses are shut down, life seems to shut down and for a few hours or days, people somehow feel like the master of their own world simple because all the routine choices that they live in day to day are changed for a brief period of time..
Last week our group time/LifeCare was canceled because of a power outage. How did I react to that interruption in my week.. how did you? I made the decision to embrace the change.. embrace the interruption in my life and use it in a positive way. Because of the interruption.. I was able to visit with a friend longer and then.. my friend and I were able to visit another friend who was under hospice care in her home.. dying from pancreatic cancer. The interruption turned into a blessing... sometimes the storms, the interruptions in our lives, our days, can be a blessing if we embrace them.. stay open.. don't fight them.

What an interesting concept… if we go deeper and think about the storms in our lives.. how have we reacted to them? Do we look at them as an invitation to something significant or something that can and should be avoided to stay in our normal routine and comfort of ‘knowing’ … knowing the usual.. the routine.. even if it is not all that great.. certainly not the best it can be..

Anyway.. back to Mack's story... the mail arrives and Mack bundles up for a trek out to the mailbox.. he lives in the country – the mailbox is at the end of the driveway.. he gets there to find a single envelope with only his first name typewritten on the outside, no stamp, no postmark and no return address… of course he is curious so rather than waiting.. he rips it open to find a typewritten message that simply said:
"Mackenzie, it’s been a while. I’ve missed you. I’ll be at the shack next weekend if you want to get together. " – pa pa

Mack’s response to the note was pretty emotional… first he felt sick then he was enraged – who would have the nerve to put such a thing in his mailbox.. This must be a cruel joke….Why did he react this way? 1) The Shack represented a place in Mack’s past.. a place of pain… and..2) it was signed Pa Pa.. Pa pa was his wife, Nan’s, favorite name for God and it expressed the delightful, intimate friendship she had with Him.

Did Mack get a personal written message from God in his mailbox? How is God communicating to you these days? Are you hearing His voice or questioning the message just like Mack?

John 10:14 & 27 (New International Version)14"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 27My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

-Condition of our society that I don't like: As a whole, we have all become so 'busy', 'efficient', fast-paced and impatient that we have lost the ability to focus and connect – connect with each other.. and connect with God…. . Even our computers aren't fast enough for us, and when we get a faster one, we (right along with society's demands) push our brains and bodies to function faster. Talking on the phone takes too much time...too much connecting with people when we just want to accomplish the massive amounts of stuff on our plates. So if we text, we don't have to connect. And, of course, with emails, details are annoying, right? We only want what we 'have' to know...but then what's often missed? - people are missed. Maybe that's why God is 'missed' so often….. who takes time for context and detail and understanding?!? ...and 'meditation'...He tells us to meditate on His Word...so few do that............
I went to a Jason Upton concert/worship experience recently. He kept praying.. God we want to be fully present for you tonight.. As I have prayed and thought through that and experienced that time with the Lord in worship.. I see now the connection in what I was just explaining... we are not fully present for each other most of the time.. we are not fully present for God. How many of us pride ourselves in the fact that we can multi-task? I do. However, am I fully present to the person on the phone if I am reading or sending an e-mail out at the same time or going through papers on my desk? Is that being fully present? And what do we do in our devotional times? Are we fully present or are our thoughts on our to-do list for the day or wandering to some other place we need to be or were yesterday. It takes effort to be fully present.

Are you hearing His voice? Back to the penguins… what did you notice in that clip?
In this section of the movie we see that each of the penguins make a distinct sound.. their voice is distinct and unique and amidst all the noise and chaos, amidst all the other voices, that voice can be heard above the others to the one who is in intimate relationship .. and then they are reunited.. found.. reconnected..

How does God speak to us?
1. His word – Jeremiah 23:18 (New International Version)
18 But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD to see or to hear his word? Who has listened and heard his word?

2. Music (I had a counselee recently who God spoke specifically to her through a song by Tim McGraw - yes, God uses country music!) :-)
3. Through others – pastors, friends, mentors, counselors – even through people outside of the faith - God can and will use anyone
4. Circumstances
5. through nature
6. books, articles, poetry
7. Journaling
8. dreams, visions, pictures (in our mind’s eye) – Joel 2:28-29 28 "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days
9. through our senses..(feelings, physical, emotional)
10. His still small voice (thoughts) Luke 8:18a 18Therefore consider carefully how you listen.
· Prayer and fasting
· Inner Healing Prayer

How do we know it’s Him? I am a bottom line minister – How can we know? - Well...does it change you? – do you get up different? Is there a sense from your gut… are there others that confirm it? – ask for confirmation if you need it.. peace is not always an indication but it is at times
ps 85:8– 8 I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints— but let them not return to folly.

when there might not be peace: when our flesh doesn’t want to do what God is asking of us… when it doesn’t contradict God’s Word/ His truth.. which means you better find out what God’s word says about what you are asking right? Study..


How can we prepare to hear from God:
1. look for God in unexpected places
2. ask for discernment to know what is and what is not His voice
3. be patient while waiting on the Lord
4. be quiet and listen expectantly
5. make a decision to believe He wants to speak to you
6. surrender your self-will so God can get through to you
7. let go of fear
8. gain knowledge of the truth.. His word to protect yourself from counterfeits

"Two roads diverged in the middle of my life Larry Norman says - 2 roads diverge in the middle of your life - which one will you choose?"

GROUP WORK
LESSONS FROM THE SHACK
PART 1



1. What has God directly communicated to you through this first lesson about the storms of life? And…
2. hearing His voice?
3. Is there anything standing in your way that is preventing you from hearing from the Lord?
4. How can you prepare this week to hear the voice of God more clearly?


Series Challenge: Read the Shack