As much as I love classics I have found myself reading a lot of Christian romance novels recently, but like I said in my first sentence.  We have a love/hate relationship.  I love that they are easy reads.  You do not have to dissect and figure out analogies or metaphors.  You do not have to get through a chapter like “it was the best of times.  It was the worst of times.”  In addition, never do you find an author like Victor Hugo, who has to give you a history lesson on the geography and layout of Paris before he can continue his story.  Christian romances are simple, which happens to be the thing I hate about them.

It is nice to know that when I settle down with a book that I will finish it in a few days… perhaps even hours.  I do not have to worry about the language or questionable content.  I find it very hard to put down the book.  I have to know how they couple ends up together.  With the exception of maybe two or three books, the following are usually the case: you always know which characters are going to fall in love by the end of the first or second chapter; and the books are predictable, and there is never any great shock over the course of the story.

The books leave me with one of three emotions.  I think they are sweet and worth reading again one day.  Second, I felt the book was merely adequate.  Third, I have no idea who these characters are!  For example, I just read a 300-page book and I still have no real comprehension as to whom the characters are and what makes them tick.  Who cares is the guy and girl fall in love.  I want to know more about them.  Because women write most of the stories, the woman’s character is developed more fully than the man’s.  The man is always some Mr. Dreamboat who the girl thinks is too good for her.  He is almost always tall dark and handsome.  Okay so this does not seem like a huge deal, but the stories do seem a little repetitive after a while.

Another thing I do not like is that God is not a main character.  Oh, the people talk about him… sometimes… but they do not have a full relationship with him.  I can understand that in a 120 pg book you can’t go all out like you might in a 400 pg  book; but if I don’t understand these characters’ walk with God how am I suppose to under their character?

I guess if I were to write a novel I would be very specific about its contents.  God will be the central character in my book.  Furthermore, the plan of salvation will be clearly presented.  Finally, maybe the girl will not even get the guy… now that would be different .  However, until I write this novel I think I will sit on the couch and read another book.

I believe that a woman has a right to be voice her opinion and be respected for it.  Nonetheless, the woman is to submit to the authority in her life (ie. God, her father, brother, husband, pastor etc.).  If voicing my opinion does not conflict with their authority then I see no harm is saying what needs to be said. Apparently others disagree with me.

I at a point in my life were I have no husband and have no prospects (that doesn’t make me anti-husband and anti-children).  I don’t consider the lack of prospects to be a disadvantage.  I have a great opportunity to get to know my God and to serve him with reckless abandon.  (i’m not perfect… but He is making me perfect)  God is the final authority in my life and I submit myself under his authority.

My father is also an authority in my life.  I would never intentionally do anything to defy his God-given authority.  In like manner, I respect my brothers and value their opinion.

My pastor and professors are authorities in my life.  While I am under their leadership I will respect their authority.  The Hebrews 13:17 says “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”  As long as there is any form of authority in my life i will obey this verse in Hebrews.

I wrote a post several months ago about a book I read called “The Shack.”  Let me give a quick recap.

The story is about a man who learns to forgive his daughter’s murder, forgive his father, and renew his relationship with God.  The novel contains many doctrinal errors, and I caution anyone who read the book to be firmly grounded in their doctrine before reading the book.

So, I was at work today and I was opening with a girl who says she is a Christian.  She attends a liberal church somewhat faithfully, but she does not live a separated Christ-like life.  She asked me if I had ever read “The Shack” and I told her yes.  When she asked me what I thought I told her that it was doctrinally inaccurate and really wasn’t worth reading.

She then informed me that the author of the book came and spoke at her church.  She said that what he said sounded somewhat weird… as if he didn’t believe in God, and then the next statement he did.  She said she sat in church wondering why the pastor had invited him to speak.  I suppose he was very persuasive, because in the end she wants to by the book… even though she doesn’t agree with everything he said.

I pray she doesn’t read it; she already has things in her life she needs to deal with. “The Shack” would only make things worse.

Last night during my break I was texting Daniel and asking him what he was doing.  He told me he was working on a devotional for his speech class based off of Psalm 68:19 and 72:18.  He also informed the that he had read the verses the day before Bert’s caregiver unexpectantly died.  I didn’t have my Bible with me so I told him I would look them up when I got home that evening.

I got home around 10:30ish and noticed that Hannah wasn’t home.  I knew she was feeling sick and that she has a doctors appointment in the afternoon, but she should have been home by now.  My conclusion what that she was in the hospital and I was a little mad that I wasn’t told that she went to the ER (but then again when your sick you don’t really think that logically).  I got in contact with her and she told me that the she had been to the ER and they were sending her home with medicine… (and still no answers).

I went to my room and began to do my evening devotions and remembered that I was going to look up the verses that Daniel told me about.

• Psalm 68:19  Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah
• Ps 72:18 Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who only doeth wondrous things.

Wow!  that was just what I needed!  No matter what the circumstances of life my God only does wondrous things.  I may question His working but when I stop and consider I know that He is doing wondrous things.  I may wake up in the morning with a headache or I may have a really bad day cause of celiac but my God still loads me with benefits.  No matter how my day begins or where it goes my God has supplied an overabundance of benefits to me and is constantly doing wondrous things.  God is truly amazing and worthy to be praised!

The main character in the book, Mach, took his three youngest children on a camping trip somewhere in Oregeon.  On the last day of the trip the two older children go for a canoe ride while Missy (7 yrs old) is coloring at a picnic bench.  Mach watches as the canoe tips and only one of children surfaces.  Mach (a former lifgaurd) runs out to the lake to save his son.  Mach successfully saves his son, but by the time everything has settled down Missy has been kidnapped. All of the evidence they find suggests that she has been brutally murdered by a serial killer in ‘the shack’.

Five years later.  Brought about by a strange note; Mach returns to ‘the shack’  to meet “Papa.”  Next thing you know the book has immersed you into this… i don’t know… parellel universe… and Mach meets “Papa” or “God.”  Actually he not only meets God, me meets the entire Trinity!  My greatest problem with the book is that “Papa” is a WOMAN!!!!  Oh Yeah… and so is the Holy Spirit!!!  They attribute God’s feminitiy because Mach can’t comprehend God as a Father because his father was very cruel.  Anyways, so the purpose of Mach meeting them is to help him cope with the lose of Missy and to rebuild his relationship with them.  Well, Mach learns to deal with the loss of Missy and he rebuilds his relationship with God and his family.  He even learns to forgive the murderer.

I understand the idea behind all of this… but the book could seriously mess up your doctrine!  As I read it I realized that this book is simply a doctrines book in novel form…. a very dangerous combination.  So… if you are going to read this book please take caution.  The book does make you think about things… but like I said… it is off on some of its doctrine.

In conclusion, is this book a modern day Pilgrims Progress?  NO!!!!

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the pasts of righteousness for his name’s sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou annointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.