[…] it was purely a work of fiction from his mind and experiences. You can read the author explain here, and here’s a quote: So is the story true? The pain, the loss, the grief, the process, the […]

Hi Paul!

I am Dena Brehm’s sister. The one that lives in Sweden (if she mentioned me). I have just finished The Shack after a few weeks of Dena and my parents urging me to read it.

I am still unable to put into words how this book has affected me. It may take a few days to find these words, but I am eager to get people reading it.

I’ve sent an email to your UK distributer and will talk with her about getting some books over here. I’ve emailed everyone in my address book. I’ve posted the book on my LiveJournal page. I’ve even passed my copy of the book on to a dear friend with the instructions that she must pass it on to someone else. This is not a book that can sit on a shelf!

I looked on Amazon.com and The Shack is listed but there are no comments or reviews as of today. There is a place for the author to comment.

I would like to encourage you and others to go and put a review. Once I have found the words to describe my own reactions then I’ll post there as well.

Thank you again for letting God lead you in writing this book. I pray that it will touch others as it has touched me. How can it not??????

In Him,

Darcy McGowan

8-28-07

Dear Willie…

I hope that’s not too familiar. Or is it your real name? I spent most of the day on Sunday finishing the book because I was so eager to see if it would be my “Note From PAPA”. It certainly was. I am still in a cloud of thoughts and emotions that pass like feathers drifting in the wind. Sometimes they almost stop as they float by and I can sit in the amazement of the experience.

I know that this story has been an awesome touch from my PRECIOUS LOVING GOD! I find myself actually saying Papa in my prayers and feeling a bit more comfortable than I ever expected. As though a porthole has opened in my heart. Anxiously awaiting a new beginning of my journey with Him. I’m so excited.

Thank you for your portrayal of Jesus and Sarayu being with Missy. I just lost my Dad on July 31, 2007. He was found dead in his apartment - ALONE. He was a complicated man with many wounds that I’m not sure ever got healed while he was here. He loved God… that I know. Still, the shock of it all and the wondering of the event that caused his death were haunting me.
Reading how Jesus and Sarayu comforted Missy brought me to sobs thinking that MY DAD WASN’T ALONE - It healed my heart and filled me with peace. Thank you.

There is so much more that this precious story has brought out in my heart… I just can’t put it all in words.

You know the funny thing…I miss it. After sobbing through the last half of the book I felt as though I had been at a worship conference… exhausted yet energized. The next day I gave the book to my husband to read and ever since then there’s this little sadness that yearns to read more. I can’t wait to read it again… or maybe another great interpretation of love.

Thank you from the best places in my heart. Blessings to you and your loving family.

Linda Harris
Chino, CA

Thank you. I hope to pass this on to some in my family who have lost their way. You put into words things I have believed, but not yet fully walked in.

I, too am finding it hard to express how this story impacted my life. I lost my sister, my best friend, mentor, confidant, confessor, my heart in June. I have carried the Great Sadness with me since then. When the women in her Bible Study group asked me to go on their annual trip with them and that we were going to read The Shack together, I had no idea how that was going to turn out. It was ordained by Our God for all of our healing. I especially identified with Mack when he felt guilty and kind of lonely when he knew he could put the Great Sadness down. Since then my brother, who because of a childhood injury is somewhat mentally and physically impaired, was in a terrible accident on his moped. If I hadn’t read this book, I may have lost my faith, but because of it I was able to encourage my 80 year old parents and my sister and brother.
I’m sure that when you hear or read the words “thank you” you must wonder what we are all thanking you for. You, Will, just wrote a story for your children. So, I thank Papa for getting His/Her word out through you. He really inspired you. I pray that you, your children, your wife, or any of us who were fortunate enough to have read this great story will never forget the words that the Creator of the Universe gave to you. God Bless you. MB Shields

Hello from South Africa!

The journey of your book to me here in a small and remote town at the foothills of the Maluti Mountains is in itself a miracle!

My sister, who lives in northern Zambia told me one day over the phone that your book was recommended to her by a friend. (She has not yet read it) I tried to get a copy via the ‘Christian Bookshops’ here in South Africa and was not successful. I came by your book title on the Lifestream webpage (finding Wayne’s books was another intervention of Father!) and there found that you have a distributor in South Africa. When I found your outlet on the web, I immediately phoned and ordered five copies. Emoyeni Publishers are super effecient!

Your book is a gift to me. It has helped me to see things from a new (and better) perspective. We all have many “layers” - experiences, hurts, predjudices, upbringings, pain and suffering that need to be healed by Father. That is why your “conversations” at the Shack have such relevance. They go to the heart of the matter, not just looking at the syptoms of our human efforts or behaviours. I must admit I had to read it in “installemnts” as I could not absorb it all at once. It was almost too much to accept that Father loves us THAT MUCH. Of course He does! But I needed to peel back my layers and let those conversations seep in…..

If ever you come to South Africa, please do come and visit with us. We live remotely but in a beautiful place and we would love to have a time a fellowship with you!

Sincerly
Marjoleine

I’ve done nothing but think of and talk about this book since the minute I picked it up, which was about 2 weeks ago. I too read it for a church book club, and when I read the back of it I thought "no way". I LOVE to read, but specifically stay clear of anything that has to do with children being hurt. I’m so happy that I read this one!! It is so much more than the hurt….the healing is so inspirational. One of the comments on the back cover said "This book reads like a prayer…" I thought, this book reads like a Bible Study and  I actually want to keep attending. So many thoughts and interpretations of the Bible were brought forward that I would never have thought of on my own. Thank you so much for writing this book. One of the things that I constantly thought of during reading this book was "Could this really have happened?" and I had myself convinced that for Mack it did happen. I figured out in my head that it had to happen for him, but nobody else would ever have gone to that Shack on that Friday and seen anything different but the building it was. So when I read Willie’s blog explaining the "Is it real?" questions…I was a bit disappointed, but also relieved….if that makes any sense. My book club will be discussing this on Friday night and I can’t wait to hear how this affected everyone else! By the way….our local book stores are having a very difficult time keeping this book on the shelves….CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Heidi Blanck Marquette, MI

Willie said:
“So… is all this real? Is all this true? I suppose each of us has to decide for ourselves, don’t we?”

I agree with the above. To some extent is has happened and will happen to us, not in the way it happened to Mack, but in other ones.

I think that each of us can see in Mack himself/herself in one way or another.

P.S. Brother Willie, thank you so much for sharing through The Shack your portion of the Lord.

Dear William,

What an amazing job you’ve done my friend (for some reason I feel I can call you that). I’m no fan of “Christian Fiction”, and when a friend of mine E-mailed me a link to your site and said that I “had to read this book”, I was more than skeptical.

Boy am I glad I broke character and picked it up. Actually, it came so highly recommended that I grabbed all three copies that were left at Barnes and Noble before I had even read it…and until now, I couldn’t tell you why. I was leaving for LA in a couple of hours, and wanted something to read on the flight. So I get in my seat, open the book, and that was it for me. Non-stop, Detroit to LA I was pretty much a sobbing wreak. I had people on both sides of me patting my shoulders (“there, there…it will be O.K.”) and looking helplessly at the flight attendants as they passed by like “Is this guy gonna have some kind of breakdown?” Then I’d break into a belly laugh and really freak them out.

It was great! I couldn’t help myself! I’m not that guy that you sit next to on the plane that won’t shut up, and most of the time I have something very “businesslike” to do during the flight, so this was a welcome treat for me. I was so engrossed in this story…I was Mack. I had visions of my own pain, frightful moments, feelings of aloneness…Papa spoke directly to me throughout the entire book. The healing moments were my healing moments, the words of wisdom and comfort went right to my core, and truth rang in my heart for the first time in a very long time. God came through in this book for me BIG TIME. I have a feeling of personal closeness with good ol’ Pops that I have turned away from for so long. What a great reminder of the deception of “the world”, the fullness of the power of faith and the power that God has placed in each of us.

Having said all that, I must say thank you. Thanks for allowing yourself to be exposed in this way, for learning to trust God to teach you to love, and for loving enough to be free to write such a wonderful “story”. And for all those who are asking if this story is true…I don’t think we’ll ever know if what happened to Mack actually happened as it’s described in this book, but there is one thing that I know for sure…I spent a few days in my own shack with Papa on a 4 hour flight to L.A. And there is no one that can tell me different.

P.S. Those three copies that I bought for no apparent reason…I gave one to the guy I visited in LA, left one on the plane, and my wife is reading the third…

What kind of man starts to write a story for children but ends up speaking to all of mankind? Who are you to expose my pain, frustration and anger to the world, yet bring healing in the same sitting? When you wrote of the dream of the children, with Missy, did you know of my dream with my dearest friend? Are you reading my mail? Obviously, somebody is, and I am glad. Thank you for the surprising Christmas present, and for being a most respecful and obedient servant of Pappa. This is one grateful child!

My brother in law handed me ‘The Shack’ to read and I couldn’t put it down. Thankyou William for such an inspiring book that cuts through religion to reveal the true meaning of being a disciple of Christ. It is written so powerfully that I feel it’s such an ideal book to give to those around me who are struggling with the concept of who God is. God Bless You.

Hello!
Just finished reading the Shack very good book. it touched my life so very well. I lost a Grandson 4yrs ago now if I can just get my Son to read the book I feel it may help with some healing in his life. thank you for the book now off to read so you don’t want to go to Church any more.
Linda

Hey Paul!

Thank you so much for this book. It has touched my life in so many ways. I speak of it on my radio show often and have recommended it to family, friends and I even gave it away to some of my friends from Survivor China at the finale in December.

I always knew in my heart that God was like this. I just never heard it from anyone else until now. Anyone who was ever brought up in religion needs to read this book for healing. It helps in that process with such gentleness and encouragement you don’t even realize that’s what’s going on!

Thank you for your obedience. You may not be aware of just how much God is using your obedience to bless and inspire so many of your brothers and sisters all around the world. Write another one now, okay?! (smile)

Leslie Nease

Oh my what a book! What a journey! My neice and her husband read your book and were so impressed they bought a case and sent them at Christmas to all the relatives! I started reading mine at 7:30pm and didn’t move until 12:30 am. I could NOT put it down. And now, I’ve spent my last hour before bed each night highlighting all the words of Papa, Jesus, and Saraju. There are so many beautiful and wonderful teachings and beliefs and thoughts there — I want to be able to go back and just read those parts again and again.

I have been Southern Baptist to the core all my life — Daddy was a preacher, went to an SBC college, married a guy going to one of the SBC seminaries, and have worked with or for churches or seminaries, etc. most of my life. And boy can I tell you how organized church messes with the Kingdom and the Plan that Papa seems to outline in His Word !!! I’ve always felt that when it’s time to go Home to Him, the only question I’ll be asked that matters is: Do you know my Son? does He have your heart?

I am learning so much as I continue to review your book. What a beautiful thought as I started reading around on the web site of how the story started — a gift to your children. Right now my husband (recently FIRED from one of those SBC churches) are facing some really dark times. I could not have found your book at a better time. I’ll include at the end of this comment that has gotten way too long a part of an email I sent to my daughter today. Thank you, thank you, thank you for being in the right relationship to the Father to hear His Voice telling you to write this story and then the wisdom to obey His Voice through others to publish it for people like me!

Voniece, (she’s the one that gave me the book!)

I’m sending you a portion of an email I sent Kristi (my daughter) tonight. She’d written saying she’d had a rough day….dealing with some thoughts about life in general…and here’s what I wrote her. Thought you’d appreciate it….

well let me share something good that happened today and it was totally in repsonse to what we’ve been reading in The Shack.

I FELT Papa’s presecne with me today in a way I haven’t felt in a long time — and there was nothing that brought it on like a worship service or something. He was just WITH ME — I could sense that I was seeing the trees and my car and those clients and EVERYTHING through HIS eyes. It was incredible. There was a smile on my face and a lightness in my heart that I cannot explain. The colors of everything were vivid, the smells were sweet, the sounds were clear — HE WAS WITH ME TODAY ABIDING IN ME AND GIVING ME HOPE AND COURAGE. Of that I have zero doubt. It was almost like I could see the picture in MY mind that came as I was reading the book and there that black Aunt Jemimah just cooking and grinning knowing I knew Papa was WITH me…..Jesus in the wood shed smiling because I was fully living in the present….and the Spirit just flitting around trying to decide which awareness to give me next. It was beautiful and I’m still smiling. They’ll give you that too….just keep giving up yourself. I know that today was a rare gift, a special moment. And I’ll need to remember it on those days when I feel depressed like dad did today. But for today — He gave me all I needed to overcome…..and the same things that you need to overcome. After all, how dare you act like you are a human with all those normal human emotions and questions and fears?! (that was a sarcastic joke by the way). No — your life today is NOT all there is !!! There is so much more that we can’t even imagine. Hang in there…..

Joy2U,
Pattie

Thanks for allowing God to lead you somewhere that you didn’t even know you were going until you arrived! You began with a noble purpose, motivated by love, to reach your children and God used you to take the message to the rest of his children, too.

It was a pleasant surprise that you chose my beautiful corner of the state (I live in Elgin, Oregon, between La Grande and Joseph) for the location of the story.

I have recommended “The Shack” to members of my Yahoo eGroup and will recommend it to readers of my newsletter as well.

When the church begins to know the depth of the love that God has for us, and the reality of the closeness he wants between himself and all of his children we may find ourselves finally empowered to move to true unity in Christ in answer to Jesus’ prayer that we all be truly one. With God all things are possible.

I sincerely believe that your book has done a lot toward leading people to ponder some things that are a bit outside their comfort zone. A great treatise on “Big Picture” thinking, much needed by all of us.

Thanks again,

John Davis (Christian Reunion Ministries)
Working for oneness

The Shack book is marvelous. The truths it contains are priceless. The forward confuses me. Why go to such great lenghts to convince ma that a work of fiction is factual? It seems unnecessary and deceitful. I feel betayed by that. The parables of the Bible do not contain intro’s that set the reader up for dissappointment. Honesty has to be intentional.

The book came to me at a time in my life when I was really at a low point……questioning my faith, whether I wanted to continue on. It made God more real to me….less distant. I don’t believe in organized religion. I feel it leads us away from God sometimes instead of toward Him. I feel more comfortable now when I pray. The Shack is a wonderful book whether it’s fiction or not. I feel it can help a lot of people get closer to God, and I think that’s truly what He wants. Thank you ‘Willie’ for your story. I hope you will write more.

Drew, the author states:

“…So, I didn’t have to follow any normal rules about writing something. Actually, I didn’t even really know or care about what the normal rules might be…never thought about it. I wanted my kids to enjoy a story and through the story to understand there own father better and the God that their father is so in love with. I even had this brilliant idea to have Willie (me) ghost-write the story for Mack, and so on my very first Title Page, it said, The Shack, written by Mackenzie Allen Phillips, with William P Young. I thought it was clever and that the kids would get a laugh out of it.”

The book wasn’t written for a general audience, just presented “as is” with the rhetorical gimmick included. I would guess that Mr. Young never dreamed that the existence vs. the non-existence of his fictional storyteller would overshadow the story itself.

It threw me a bit, too, but because I live in the area where the story takes place I noticed a few non-factual “facts,” such as the mention of the stop light in one of the towns in Wallowa County, a rural county where no stop lights exist in any of the small towns over there.

Perhaps later editions of this book include a clarification of what has become something of an issue in this edition. I can see where some might resent having their emotions “jerked around” by eliciting feelings (and even prayers) toward a family and their tragedy, and miraculous events that turn out to be fictional.

The story is an excellent approach to sharing a much-needed message of the nature of God and his love, and can continue to do much toward that end. Perhaps a simple statement: “This is a fictional story attempting to depict eternal truths.”

However, I don’t feel betrayed, although I had to re-adjust my thinking about the matter a bit and I know that no deceit or dishonesty was ever intended.

Dear William - Hello from South Africa - thank you for writing such a wonderful book, The Shack portrayed the greatness of our God’s love for us, and I am blessed for having read your book. Please don’t stop writing!
Many blessings, a sister in Jesus.

I live in Oregon yet heard about this book from our friend, Shawn in Costa Rica! (We’re taking copies with us when we visit in February.) I’m thankful Willie wrote the fictitious forward which may give people hope to believe this is a true story. Hope leads to faith which invites us to experience God’s amazing love through the pages of this timely story. It has been confirming to hear someone else’s interpretation of scripture so contrary to modern religious paradigms. (Did God really forsake Jesus on the cross? Every commentary you read will tell you God can’t be in the presence of sin, yet God pursued Adam and Eve in the garden…they hid from Him!) Some time ago I dared to believe I was being invited on a journey to God’s heart by following the Spirit in faith vs. trusting “man’s doctrine”. It was frightening and seemed as though I was stepping over a great abyss and my very soul was at stake if I was mistaken. I made the right choice and giving up religion and following the Spirit leads to freedom. My doubts are gone and it is abundantly clear that once again God is communicating to the world His true nature and love for His creation. May this book mark the beginning of many new journeys that lead straight to the heart of Papa.

Free at last!…

I once lost someone I loved dearly. The Great Sadness devoured many of my days. Your book reminded me of the Dearest Friend I have ever had and how He cares for my pain. We are closer friends now because of you and your literature.

Thank you.

Esau
Child Warrior Poet

Dear Willie: I get it! … and I am inspired by your gift to keep focused on the goodness of God. Please keep writing for us.

Fight pain - it will become unbearable and destructive
Accept pain - it will become bearable and beneficial

Study pain - you will know deeper pain
Study God - pain will become your teacher

Focus on pain - pain will overpower you
Focus on God - pain will lose its power

In the midst of pain, everthing seems dark
But faith in the goodness and sovereignty of God is your light.

Good Afternoon Paul Mack Willie etc etc…..aka fellow journeymen here. I have just finished The Shack after picking it up less than 24 hours ago. In the finishing, I couldn\’t help but read even the back pages and wanted to thank you for not only sharing in transparent vulnerable writing your personal discoverying but in also providing a forum for others to eek out in words their own simple life in the \”becoming\”. More than likely what I will lay here upon my laptop will read in a disjointed manner. For, to put ones life into words is at most times a very daunting task; where each individual moment in this timeline has been woven into a momentary clarity of insight for the traveler, the penning beomes a whirlwind of HUH? to others. But, if only just for me and my Abba, I will attempt it regardless of outcome. For, my experiences though not as “tangible” and “concrete” as Mack’s (he may be in this world considered fictional but I believe with all of my being he exists daily but is trepidicious in light that society would label him “interesting paddy wagon material” and refrains from exposure-everyone, each person who has been given the gift of traversing here is Mack) have since my birth been spordically parallel. It is my belief that the “sporadic” portion has been the result of my fearing to trust abide and settle in the center of my Abba’s gentle unsafe kindness and rest within his hand. Daily though, my voracious youthful requirement to have all the right answers, assailing doubts eradicated, knowledge, understanding, wisdom and the right pair of shoes in which to make the journey in style has been at a achingly slow arduous pace, replaced with just being “me”. The I am in I AM and for I Am, HIS home in me, My home in HIM. But in the “being” me, I have come to accept with much ironic humor that I am still the wayward child, the lost and voracious demanding youth, the older aging woman, a mother, daughter, wife with a soon to be X added, the pretender. Yet wholely, fully his daughter/child/bride. I will grapple, wrestle, trip, fall, mistake, judge, land on my kiester hard on any given moment of any given day. Blessedly it has become alright, acceptable,in my faults/weakness is where the treasure of HIS love resides. My mantra, He who began a good work in you will complete it in the end. The end in my thinking will not be here. For it is a short part of the journey, an infinitesimal step upon an infinite journey. For the longest time, it was my belief that I was at the whim and whimsy of a world I could not understand, and a war of protection within myself erupted. I am beginning to reach out to the belief, that I am and always have been the center of every blessed Abba breathed breath, as are all and though I may be marked by the blemishes of a fractured world and a fractured humanness; they are not scars but the gifting of my passage here to the beyond. I can choose to see HIS majesty at work in all things, mine/others transformation in “the becoming” or I can choose to wage a war upon my heart that lays waste not only my precious life but all of his creations/childrens lives as well. Wouldn’t it be so…..if one/all were created for the center of a union, then each is an interegral part of that union and even if but one is in a struggle, then are all. Geez, who’s writing this??? Oh yeah, me, the me that loves words/adjectives/runon sentences and this journey here. Sorry, got lost for a moment! I will stop now so as not to purge myself all over the page on the first visit. But, I would love the chance to share maybe more of my “personal” journey in the “becoming”. The hard, painful, tangible steps that brought me here. The here, to read this book, to want to share, to the knowledge that I am broken oh so beautifully broken yet residing wholely in the center of incomparable LOVE. If anyone would be interested I would greatfully enjoy getting to know how any of you got here also. We are many, but like the multifaceted/multidimensional irreplaceable individual parts of a great building we are inexplicably joined as one, by a great and wonderous architect, I lovingly call, my Abba.

I am my beloveds and he is mine. Abba changed it up for me a bit over the past year……to “Becoming, my beloved, I am yours.”

Salutations

Elizabeth Stander (southeast region of the North America\’s) [submit] => Submit Comment

This is from the above poster. I wrestle in the woods with Abba on any given day with my camera. You can find on this page a miniscule amount of what is taking during the wrestling.

A Blessed Journey to All
E.S.

Hi, this book was brought to our church by a wonderful friend and pastor, John Sheasby. He has a passion for the father heart of God.

I don’t read much, but when i read the forward it gripped me. I am about 48 hours later and I finished the book. It may be fiction, but I believe fiction inspired by Papa himself.

He cares for us and it is tue that He is especially fond of us.

This is a great book, that I will recommend to anyone as a great read.

More than just revealing God and his nature, the book succeeded to reveal to me that I was made in his image, and that I often believed a lie. A lie that wants to sever my relationship with the Father.

Wimpie van Heerden
Berlin, South Africa.

O for a God like youspeak of in the Shack. I am 55 years old, been a minister most of my life and have struggled with so many of the questions Mack had. To have an experience with God like this would be a dream fulfilled for me. How I am coming to understand with my head that I need His life in me it is my heart that seems to have a hard time following. I cried more than I care to share reading your book. You, I believe, captured the heart of the Gospel. If only it, the gospel, could be presented so well by his church. I am hoping that He changes my heart the way he did Mack in the story. Mack maynot be real but I believe he has taken up resisdincy in me.

Thank You.
Sam

I’m in chapter 15. Have only had the book for 9 days, on loan from a friend I work with. She bought it from Krissy B.also from work, school bus work! The book is so refreshing, so real. I am certainly living each moment aware more than ever of God’s love for me and wanting more than ever to allow his love to flow through me. From the book, I am entering into a whole new arena of growth, where it grows…the Lord knows!
I’ve lived in Vancouver, WA all my life, which makes the local places in the Shack -nice highlights.

I am 54 yrs old and have struggled virtually all my life with the image of an angry God. Raised in a fundamentalist church and a very hardened view of who God is, I found a place of GRACE a couple years ago. I had totally given up on ever pleasing that God. I found Papa, and my whole world has turned. The Shack gave insights that I would never have had without it. I cannot even imagine having an imagination that could create this book. I choose to believe there was a vision, a message given, to be put in this little book for my (and others) enlightened view of Papa.
Thank you so much for putting it together. I have interest in helping others who have a past that includes “Spiritual Abuse”
Papa is so close and definatley a part of my life.

Second to the bible, “The Shack” is the most amazing book that I have read to date.

I had, what I would decribe as an intimate relationship with the Lord prior to reading the book but this remarkable book has helped me draw much nearer to God and to see God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit as intimate friends wanting to be my intimate friend.

I will be praying that this book will go to film so that the many who hold the view of Christianity as, “Just an other world religion”, will have the opportunity to understand the greatest relationship - us and our God; Papa, Jesus and Sarayu.

Lucinda Windeatt
Queensland
Australia

I hope everyone pays close attention to this particular blog post. It most definitely holds the meaning to “God works in mysterious ways.” My phone rang today at 4pm (it is now 12am) and it was one of my closest college buddies who, as we all do, i haven’t spoken with in a while. We do the usual catch up on each other’s lives and about 45 minites into the conversation she asks me “have you read any good books lately?”. To know me, you would know that I’m not a huge reader and I remember thinking that was an odd question. I mention that there is one book I want to read by Tony Dungy (I am a college coach) and she proceeds to tell me that she has just finished a book called “The Shack” and that I should read it. Honestly, she has to coax me into it but kept saying that it allows you to think outside of the box about God. I grew up in a Baptist church where fire and brimstone were preached every Sunday. After a few minutes discussion about it I said ok so she would drop it. Ironically, I found myself at Barnes and Noble at 5:30 this afternoon. I went to pick up my Tony Dungy book and thought I will just see if they have this “Shack” book. Well what do you know? They have it. Next thing you know it is 9pm and they are closing the store and I am only 155 pages into it, so needless to say I finished the book after owning it for 7 hours now. I can tell you that I am sending it to my friend in Tampa and have aleady called several friends to share it with them as well. Willie…Mack…THANK YOU!!! I now know it was meant for me to read this book. I think we all have our “shacks” in our lives but I can tell you this first hand…..it has definitely reopened the door for me with God. And for that, I will never be able to thank you enough.
Terri
New Orleans, LA

My sentiments reflect the same as Mr. Jake Huskins; as I was just 100 pages into the book, I had belly laughted (I seemed to have found the fact that the Trinity would have put a Gideon’s Bible in the bedside table…I’m still laughing over that one) and commenced to sobbing all in about a minute’s span and doing it several times through the reading. I appreciate Willie’s ability to allow us to see the relationship among the Trinity. God commenting that Jesus wanted to see if the glass bowl bounced was hilarious and I truly believe They have so much fun with each other that the laugh until they pee their pants. I’ve always felt that God had a tremendous sense of humor. I just finished the book and I will have to really chew on the “love” thing since I grew up with a very cruel and distant father. This book has given me hope that I can start seeing God as a loving Father instead of a mean, selfish, distant (alcoholic, violent) father. Let the healing begin!

The most valuable part of the book is that you admit that it is a work of fiction. Maybe some one would pass it off as a true story. Down the road, there would be problems of credibility since it was taken as a true story. That would be no fault of the author if others take it to be a true account. However, it is kind and gracious that the author is open to admit that it is a work of fiction.

Since you admit that it is a work of fiction, Grace mercy and peace to you. I too need to think this one through. There are many questions. You already answered the most important one = is this a true account. Maybe, I do not need to ask you the other questions. Maybe I should explore and discover for myself.

I read all of your book. It was convincing while I read it. I believed what I read. My first step was to check to see if this story that I believed is a true account. I guess that means that we may believe what is not a true account. The faculty of belief is independent of accuracy of facts and details.

Will be thinking about many things for a long time. aamcf

in my college english class we just read the book called “the things they carried” by tim o’ brian. he did the same concept of “ghost-writing”; accept the main character who is in the story is named tim o’ brian. it is a fantastic book about the vietnam war…great read.
anyways, in class we are dissecting the concept of whether the stories told in a novel, or the novel itself, being “true” or “made-up”, changes the continuity of the questions, ideas, concepts and morals that the story proposes. i know that is a big pill to swallow the first time, go re-read it. the question is completely based on the reader and their response to it.
in my opinion, just because the story might not have happened to the best friend of the author does not change the emotion that i experienced when reading THE SHACK. the same questions and concepts still apply to me in the real world…the novel still provides a proposition for me to change based on the concepts addressed.
in closing, if you really struggle with the book losing its continuity because the story did not happen to the friend of the author…then refer back to what Mack thinks on page 237 after he awakes to find himself in the run-down shack…”He was back in the real world. Then he smiled to himself. It was more like he was back in the un-real world.”
even though this story might not have happened, it can be more real than anything that exists in reality.

-what is real in the physical world can be different than everything that is real in the heart.

dave z.

I have just finished reading The Shack and was profoundly moved by it. I loved it!!! I’m telling everyone it is a MUST read!

Blessings from Edmond, Oklahoma

there’s no greater Love than to lay your life down for your friends. Such humility, such generosity, such purity. He made an pharisee into an messenger of love. he sees the best in everyone-the one and only J man and Papa God 4ever!

I gave this book to my Daughter to read it touched her life when she had just about given up on Church People in Churchs can sometime throw you for a loop. but praise God hes higher then that our (PAPA) God.. I hope your working on more books like this.
God Bless you.

Something strange happened as I read The Shack. I would read two or three pages then close my eyes and mind.I would not think of what I had read, but would feel the effects of the words wash over me.
I am a voracious reader and normally devour books, I was not allowed to do that with this one. It took me two weeks to read it noramally i would read a book thids size in two days.
The book taught me more about what love is, how to love and feel love more than anything I have ever heard or read.The book is divinely inspired.

I usually read one book a year and this was the one. I had the chance to read this while on spring break, so I had the whole week to read this wonderful book. The book was amazing and I was deeply moved by this story. I still am thinking about what I read and find myself praying for God to take me to my “Shack” for his feeding and grace. This is truly the most moving and spiritually enriched book that I have ever read aside from the Bible. Thank you for this inspirational work of art and thank you for sharing it with the world.

I read The Shack today. I feel totally blessed and grateful to GOD that he blessed William P. Young with such spiritual truth about our FATHER, the HOLY SPIRIT, JESUS CHRIST, and Wisdom. I ordered 5 more to hand out immediately and will probably order more soon.

I too experienced the Great Sadness for the past 3 years. My husband of 42 years passed away from horrible stomach cancer. He did everything right in his life. It was a Job experience. But I never questioned GOD once through it all. Thank you so much, Mr. Young, for writing down your inspiration. It will bless thousands of people. It just so happens that I am presently going through a terrific transition in my spiritual walk.

The Shack is a very uplifting novel with much truth. It is what I needed to inspire me and give me hope. Hope in JESUS is what it is all about!

I’m reading The Shack and I’m up to page 106. I disagree with all these ‘wonderful’comments concerning this book. So far I think it is completely disrespectful to our Holy God. I am not a straight laced person and very open to other ideas. So far I think this book is a huge waste of my time in reading it. but I will keep going to the end. May be I’ll change my mind…..

Shelly, how in the world can you say that about a book? First of all this is a fiction book. But it could very well happen in life. It states clearly on the back of the book “FICTION”. How dare you say it is a waste of time. I have just accepted God into my life last Sunday. My neice was in a terrible car wreck, where God had to have his angels wrapped their wings around her to be here with us today.
Right after I read this book, if I had a couple of hundred dollars in savings I would go buy this book in mass and start handing them out to all my friends and family. I am actually torn on who to pass this book to first. Between “Mistaken Identity” I have let God into my life. Trust me I have fought this for 35 years. But this book inspires me and if I had death in my immediate family I would hope what is in this book is real. I would know that they are never alone from the time their should leave them they are with our Papa!!! Shelly, I think you should be ashamed to even post this. They say if you don’t have nothing nice to say don’t say anything at all.
I love you, Papa!
Heather

I have a concern for your last responder Shelly. I read the book like Jake on an airplane and found myself crying multiple times. What I realized is that if the Spirit of the Trinity is in you then this book can do nothing but touch your heart. I cant seem to get the truths and the new revelations out of my head. It gives me a whole new outlook on how great the love of our God and Savior really is.

If the bride of Christ(the church) would only realize the truths which are outlined in this story the world would be a much richer place to live.

Thank you for such a book which is by far the best book I have ever read(with exception of Bible).

Hi Heidi,
We are almost neighbors…I live in Curtis, MI just down HY 28 from Marquette. “The Shack” was recently sent to me by a good friend from Oregon. I finished reading it last nite. It is difficult to know what to say about it. It did as advertised…made me laugh, cry, and everything in between. I have been going thru some tough times…first with an eye problem that I’ve been dealing with for the past year, and then with problems at my job resulting from the eye problem. The book has helped me to “see” things in a new light with both my eye and my job. At first I was very resentful toward God because of the loss of visual acuity in my left eye, but now I have come to see that perhaps there was a good reason for it. I think about what it says in the bible about “If thy eye offend thee, pluck it out”, or something to that effect as I am not much of a bible reader. Maybe God was trying to tell me something or get my attention and I wasn’t listening, but He has my full attention now. After reading “The Shack”, I am now seeing that maybe there are good reason for what happened to my eye and for what I am going thru at work. I recall hearing or reading that, “When one door closes, another opens”. I guess that is maybe what I got most from the book. I still am not quite sure, and may never be while I am still having to struggle with this life. I have hope that maybe one day in the next life, if I am found worthy, I may discover some of the answers to the questions, or figure out what are the questions that I should be asking. Nonetheless, I found the book to be very provacative, especially the part about judging and unconditional love for all of us humans, even as defective as some of us are or will become during the short time we are allowed to be on this earth. I would like to see a sequel, as I think there would be plenty of material left over from the book for the author to write one. It would be interesting to know if he might be thinking along those lines or not. Take care and have a great day……

Just a note to Heather re. Shelly’s opinion of the book so far. Regardless of what anyone else thinks…Shelly has just as much of a right to her opinion as anyone else. We live in a free country and freedom of speech is one of them. You may not like her comments Heather, or agree with them, but you are not in a position to judge anyone, much less yourself.

I, for one, was glad to finally read a comment like Shelly’s. I thought that maybe I was the only person in the world to be somewhat offended with how unholy and familiar the author created the picture of God to be. While I was moved by Mr. Young’s prolific writing ability, I was somewhat disappointed in his handling of scriptural truth. The God that I worship, is high and lifted up, exalted and seated on His throne, and He is holy, holy, holy. I worship Him for who He is and what He did for me through the amazing, redeeming work of Christ on the cross.

I respect the opinions of everyone here, and their experiences and how this book has helped them, so please don’t think me to be judgmental. Or, maybe there is another possibility; maybe I just don’t get it!

Our Pastor recommended reading the Shack. I read the Foreword and totally believed the author. I thought the book was written as a true account. I guess I missed the part where Fiction is written on the cover. So I read the book as being totally true and absolutely loved it. I felt it ministered to my heart on many levels. When I went to the bookstore to purchase another one, the lady said it was an allegory. My husband found this website and now I feel very foolish having believed it was a true account. I’m embarassed as we had mentioned to others about the book being true and gave one out to a terminally ill man. I would appreciate it if the author, whoever that might be, would correct the foreward. I felt deceived, silly me. It really lessened the impact of the book for me. Please don’t get me wrong, I would recommend the book, but I will tell people that it isn’t based on a true story.

Hi Willie!

I know you’ve heard this from everyone, but I’m going to say it too….there are simply no words to describe how your book has brought me closer to God, Jesus and the Spirit. As soon as I finished it I brought it into work and let my clients take a look at it before telling them they absolutely HAD to read it! I only had one person who was not interested, a staunch Christian who truly believes that God is someone to be feared. I hope she reads your book so her own Great Sadness can melt away into God’s grace and love.

Thank you. Your story has affirmed so many things I had believed about God, but also taught me so much more. Thank you.

Erinn

I have NEVER in my life read an entire book in one uninterupted sitting until your piece of work “The Shack”. I have to admit that I overlooked the word “fiction” and thought the entire book was true until I got on the internet to read more about this story. I got the book yesterday - began reading at 10pm and finished at 4am. I am a FT stay at home married mama of four busy ones so I was fully aware that today was going to be a challenge with only 3 hours of sleep but I couldnt put the book down. Someone’s review of your book described it as “the best fellowship with God” and I have to agree. I have posted info about your book on my BLOG and have literally made it my mission to share this story w/ as many people as I possibly can. THANK YOU SOOOOOOO MUCH for allowing God to use you to reach so many. Thank you for being obedient to his call, well wait, thank you for sharing your journey learning what God’s love is all about and the relationship he seeks with ALL of us. What an incredible blessing! Lots of love and appreciation to you & your whole family. P.S. My husband and I both grew up in Eagle Creek / Estacada area. We now make our home in Welches, Oregon. God Bless!

Papa loves you especially!!!

what a great book!
Sue

I just finished this book a couple of hours ago. It was INCREDIBLE! I found some things about God (or Papa!) a little easier to understand after reading this. I have been telling all of my friends about it (I’m in MS). My best friend was actually the one who introduced me to it. We’re all raving about it in school! God bless you!

willie,
this book has touched my heart. my daughter has lost her boyfriend a few months ago. a good man, a christian man, he had a tragic auto accident. it has helped me to understand things that had me baffled. i have encouraged her to read it as well. as a recovering alcoholic, a person who was spiritually dead, it has renewed my sense of life and love, peace and serenity, forgiveness and unity. GOD (PAPA) bless you and your family…..and thank you …..eternally
gregg

Jesus taught many deep, spiritual truths using “fictional” stories…we call them parables. This book is a modern day parable that has bore amazing fruit in my life. It has brought me closer to God then I knew was possible. I can see the Trinity now in a way I never could before. Unforgiveness, bitterness, holding on to my “right to be hurt”…it all just melted away as I read this book. Let the religious-minded say what they will. I praise God for the very personal time He spent with me as I read “The Shack”.

I have lost many loved ones throughout my life but my mothers death just a year ago seems like yesterday and the great sadness grew inmeasurably. I cant thank you enough for every word, every answer and the greatest gift, a closer relationship with Papa.

Thank you so much for writing this book. A friend gave it to my wife today and I read it. We are going through an especially dark time right now and my faith has been testing, yet growing by God’s grace. I simply could not get through the book without breaking down in tears. Thank you again, you will not know how much it helped until Heaven.

Haven’t read the book but can’t wait..will suggest it to our bookclub on Tuesday…I will probably get a copy before then..thanks so much…God Bless

I just finished reading “The Shack”. I honestly didn’t want the story to end. I had to keep looking to check if it was fiction or nonfiction. Personally, in alot of ways it felt true(for the most part)to me. I wanted the book to be nonfiction. I feel it really helped me in alot of ways in my pursuit of a relationship with God, Jesus. To me, to call God “Papa” feels comfortable and personal. I like that. This book was mentioned at the beginning of our church service in the announcements. They had just mentioned that there were new materials to read in the church’s resource centre and “The Shack” was one of the books mentioned. No one had read it yet. As soon as the service was over i went to sign it out. I think it was the only copy they had. I am going to write my thoughts on the book to include in our church newsletter(if they let me). Thank you for your book! It has helped me alot! Maybe the Lord will guide you to make a sequel to “The Shack”

Ditto what Pete said above. As a lifetime “Christian” this story helped me see God and the Trinity in an entirely new light. It removed the “obligation” and helped me understand the joy to be found in the relationship. Thank you for sharing this part of your life.

Hello-
I just finished reading this marvelous book. My family from Vancouver sent it to me for Mother’s Day. It arrived on Thursday and I finished it Sunday. I laughed, cried and prayed throughout the story and even though I work at least 60 hours a week, I took the time to read. I have a store in which I will sell the book… even though it is a clothing store…it is a must read for everyone I know. I love the ordinary life you have and the no pretense of being anything but that at your age.I prayed for my son and his family because their story could be so much your story. I got saved at 37 and struggle with not being able to live up to this Christian life. I was most impacted by the responsibilities and expectations and you said they were the basis for guilt shame and judgement…it is still hard to believe that GOD could love me so much. You made me feel loved as I was caught up in this marvelous story of love and redemption.
I was excited to read that this may be a movie…it could be a great animation also.
My dear son Tim who sent me this book is going through a life and death struggle and I told him to read it today….His wife read it and sent it for me. He is an amazing animator and is offered jobs every week because of his giftedness. I can just see him involved in this production.
Thank you for the hope and the new way to look at our wonderful GOD!!!
Bless you and your family
Allyson

What a powerful journey I just experienced. I had never heard of your book before and as an atheist I was a little skeptical about buying a book that “reads like a prayer”. I’ve never cried before while reading, never went on-line to speak to the author or post a comment on a book. But this is the story I’ve been waiting so long to hear. It’s truly a gift that I have been given and that I plan to give to everyone I can. WOW! Thank You!

This is the best book I have read in so long. Thank you for letting God write through you. God just wants to have relationships with us and you helped to make it so clear I could feel God in the book . Praise the Lord for all he dose. thank you for sharing this with us

I just finished your book Mr. Williams. I am however disappointed that the book was not real and that Mack wasn’t real. It doesn’t matter what I do believe is that God used your written to bring people like me close to God. I have been fed up with the institution of religion and traditions of the Church. I have felt like Mack asking questions about the rules of the Bible do’s and don’ts. Through reading this book I have opened my heart to want love relationship with God and those around me. This book is so deep I can’t help but think that this story is real. I have experience deep emotions and shed my ugly mask. I have cried more than when my mother passed away. I have laughed more than I care to mention. I am a Black single women raising 3 children and life has been very difficult. Reading your book has given me hope. I want to live in love with Jesus, Sayaru and Papa. My life inside has made a change for the good. I have recommended this book to my co-workers and friends. This book has even touch my middle daughter she bawled her eyes out reading this book and she dosen’t show her emotions easily. I thank God for using you to publish this book. It my be fiction but in my heart it is real.

Thank you

Your story touched me deeply, so much so, that I want to keep this book nearby, as something I can reach for when I need to be reminded of the possibilities when unconditional love is received and given. Thank you for your efforts in making this story available to so many. Sincerely Eve

What a wonderful book. I want everyone I know to read The Shack.Finished it today and have already passed it on. Thank you Janet

I thought The Shack was life changing. My daughter Missy died from bone cancer almost nine years ago and that hole in my heart will never go away. You have given me a beautiful picture of heaven in my minds eye of what my Missy may be experiencing. I know that it’s fiction but a beautiful discription.
It touched my life in other ways too. In the area of forgiveness it was huge.
I will pass the book on today and I just know it will help my other daughter with her grief. I plan on buying dozens to give away and will post it on my web-site. Thank you.

God Bless your family In His arms Lynette Norton

Hi Willie,
Just wanted to let you know how very much I loved the book. It was given to me by some dear friends who also loved it. Reading this story has brought home so ideas that I think have been hidden in my heart or soul…that God is indeed our “Papa” and he is especially fond of us.

Thank you for writing this. It will bring hope to many, and will inspire thought and discussion about our God, and his great love in this crazy, messy thing of life here on this side.

I am from Olympia, Washington. I have been so touch by this book. I sat down Saturday and was done with it on Sunday. I so felt a conection to this book there have been so many things happen in my life. I knew I had to forgive my father and I said I did forgive him but did I truly. I always cried because I did not have a Daddy but really I did and he has been waiting for me with open arms ready to embrace me and help me forgive the man who ment so much to me . I have blamed God for so many thing that has happened in my life or to my family but now I am understand better about how I need to heal myself and live one days at a time.
God Bless you!!!

Dear Mr. Young,
I think you are a gifted writer! May you continue to use your gift to bring glory to God. I just wanted to say something based on all of the above comments….
It seems to me that the crux of the book was to address whether or not God is a good God despite all of the hard things that happen in our lives and I was so happy to finish the book realizing that the author had handled that question accurately and yet in a sensitive way for his readers!! Great job!! Life is hard but God is always good.
I did struggle as I read through each of Mack’s conversations with God, emerging on the other end of the idea to say to myself “mmmmmm, okay, I can sort of see where he’s going with this.”
Remember that we as humans can represent God in ways that aren’t real or right so it’s important to make sure that whatever you read is backed up by Who God reveals Himself to be in the Bible. With all due respect to Mr. Young and all other authors who write about the character of God, it is in the Bible that we find the absolute truth about Who He is. No other book can show us more of His love or more of any other trait than can the Bible. These comments are more of a side note than anything else and I just want to encourage those who are touched by reading The Shack to now go and really spend time thinking about what God says in the Bible.
Thank you Mr. Young!
Olivia

Mr. Young, (or Willie if I may)

My daughter would not let me be until I read your book, the Shack.
It was so wonderful to hear from someone else that PaPa is so close, so real, so loving, and so merciful.
Your book sadi so many things that I could never say because people would say I was a little off, or too “spiritual”.
Thank you for this book. Thank you again and again.
Love and prayers,
Barbara Miskell

I am replying to Dave from April 8th. You said you had a hard time with this book because God is holy, holy, holy. Where in this book was God not holy? He was gentle, patient, kind, long suffering. He was a healer of wounds and a true serveant.So when was he not holy? Just curious.God is holy but he is approachable love also.

Keep reading…I had the same feelings…at first.

What a beautiful story of love. This book pours out God’s love in an amazing creative adventure. This book brings much healing and hope to a mother who lost her own beautiful daughter.

Willie,

Thank you for this wonderful journey. I was a lot like Mack, thinking of God as angry and a bit scary, so I walked on eggshells when I thought of Him. I thought that I had to “follow the rules” enough, (what ever “enough” is) to be in God’s good graces, and that when I wasn’t, that’s why “bad things” (really not getting my way) happened. Unfortunatly, that perception and my inability to accept God’s love kept me from having a true relationship with God and others. My life has been so messed up and full of sorrow and I cannot even begin to tell you the questions I have had for God. Yet I feel that many of them were answered in this book. I recently have been reuinted with my husband after seperating, am in counseling, and best of all, in Relationship with God. Thank you Willie, from the bottom of my heart. I feel like God saved my life through this book.

Wow! What a journey, I just finished the last chapter and then I saw the website. I quickly went online still with stained tears on my face. I’ve been sitting infront of my computer in somewhat of a daze. I have been so blessed in reading, “The Shack”. I think the next book I read will be “The Shack” (again). Thank you Mr. Young for writting a wounderful story

Dear Mr. Young,

I have just finished your book today and I must say that is truly inspiring and thought provoking. I was comforted to see similar viewpoints about personal relationships with God and Jesus. John 3:16 stated the promise of everlasting life. I wasn’t really sure what that meant until I read John 17:3 which says that everlasting life is knowing God and Jesus whom He sent. It is all about relationships starting with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

My wife is going to read it next, but as soon as she is done I am reading it again.

God bless you and your family,
Brian.

I just read the Shack this weekend while on vacation with my family. Two of my sisters read the book, I read it yesterday, and my daughter read it this afternoon. I have been having a great deal of trouble with my faith for a number of years, but I always told my oldest daughter, Jesus does not want us to worship in the way we do; the church is not the bricks and mortar, and not organized religion. Then I read it in the Shack, and he said it in the book. What now? I was clean and sober for 15 years, and I stepped off 4 years ago. Want to know why? I was on the road and watched a program about AA and I found out to my horror it was a religious organization, one that I had attended for 15 years. 5475 days. Once it had been put to me in those terms I dropped out. I read in the book that we are not supposed to be alone, we are supposed to be loved. Other than my family, and one close friend I am alone, I live alone. I had an extremely bad marriage, and I don’t know if I will ever allow someone to enter into my world. Forgive, but not forget, just like Mack. How sad is this? I’ll tell you how sad, beyond anything you know. Oops, did I just judge?
You may have an experience that makes my divorce look like a walk in the park! Sorry.
You know why I am writing to you? You are my age and I guess I am just looking to talk.

i lost my son 4 yrs ago. i was so angry with God. I felt He took him because of my faults. It was my punishment. I have carried these feelings with me and haven’t spoken to God since in a loving way. I felt He was cruel and unforgiving but actually that was me. After reading this book, it has left me craving more. I want to go to the shack. I want God in me but I am scared. I dont know if i can let go of the heaviness in my heart. Thank you for writing this book and starting a change in me. I want to start a relationship with Him. i gave up on Him but He made sure I found this book. I had never read a book like this, that moved me so. I truly feel it is God knocking on my door. I hope I can let Him change me. I want everyone to read this book.

I started the book and immediately believed that it was a story of a true account. I too missed the word “fiction” on the cover. I did keep flipping over to the back endorsements to check and see, again, if the contributors truly used fiction in their endorsements - had they been confused? I wanted it to be true. I wanted every moment to be something I could hold on to as real. In the midst of my theology and the Old Testament, I want to know a God who offers belly laughs and exquisite cuisine. I have always suspected that being made in God’s image probably told us more about Him than about us.

Now I know it was, after all, a work of fiction - or was it? Thanks Willie for giving me a pictoral glimpse of what I’ve always believed about God, even though I didn’t know it.

Thank you. As a pastor I find most counselling centres around Father and forgiveness issues.In your own special way you have spoken into both of those by showing the lavishness of His love and grace.Judgement of others and God certainly cuts off mercy in our lives and the lives of others.Matthew 18:21-35
Just as Hurt people, hurt people; Healed people, heal people, and you have been a wonderful instrument of healing.
Abba, father, daddy,.. Bless You

I can’t begin to express what I am feeling after reading the book. I am completely home sick for Papa, Sarahu and Jesus. I have taken on a totally new outlook on everything and everyone. This book is truly a Master of Art!

Hi to you and thank you for a beautifully written story that portrays the unconditional love that Our Father has for each of us. Just recently I have realized that allowing Him to take first place in my life is what He has yearned for in my life with Him for years. Through scripture he opened my eyes and heart to see that all He desires is a personal relationship with me… his creation. For me, learning to trust in His love has taken me a long time. I consider myself a work in progress. I plan on continuing a personal relationship with Him for eternity. I have asked questions over the last months that have been answered by Him through various means. I am excited by every revelation from Him. Sometimes a question barely formed in my mind will be answered when I least expected it. One that troubled me involved the Trinity… God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit that indwelleth. I was helped somewhat by your account of these three entities of God in your book. Thank you for that…but must importantly I praise and thank God for revealing another of His truths to me. God is so very good. Thank you for sharing that concept with your readers. May God continue to bless you and to use you as His servant…

Willie, your writing style is very unique and engaging. I read parts that just didn’t seem to jive with your portrayal of some of the characters, and then I would think about it and continue reading more. There were wonderful truths about the Trinity explained very well and they were priceless; however, I felt very betrayed when I learned that it wasn’t a true story. I re-read the forward and the ending of the story and found it very confusing. So, did Mack really testify at the Ladykiller trial? Why did you go to such great lengths to convince me that a work of fiction is factual? It seems unnecessary and deceitful. I feel betrayed by that.

I can hardly wait to sell this to as many as I can at the bookstore where I work. It’s a phenomenal work!! AWESOME!!! Anything that makes us want a closer relationship with our God, His Son and the Holy Spirit can only be good. I found nothing that went against scripture and next time through plan to have a highlighter for everything that touched me personally. I’ve already passed it on to three people and I only finished reading it today (I sold two at work before I had even finished it). Thank you for sharing your story with more than just your family, it is a work of art and deeply thought provoking and touching. Yes, I believe God is especially fond of us.

Dear Willie;

I am not much of a book reader, and have passed by your book many times, not really giving it much consideration. This past week, I went camping along with my wife and our best friends, Mike and Ellen, and along the way, my wife and Ellen decided they shoul pick up some books to read while Mike and I were on the lake attempting to empty it of fish.
As we wandered around the book store, I found myself standing looking at this ’shack’, thinking if nothing else, it’s a thin book, shouldn’t be too hard to get through If I can get into it at all, but really thinking I would be too busy catching fish.
Well, God had other plans, as we proceeded to get skunked on the lake. Having been going thru some ‘heavy’ stuff of my own, I was looking forward to the quietness of the lake to try and come to some sort of understanding of what was going on, and where my relationship with God fit into it all. Instead here I was, frustrated and not being able to think about anything important….just watching the two fishing on the dock and proceeding to catch their limit in just over an hour.
I wandered back to camp, and picked up ‘The Shack’….from that point, found it hard to put it down. In no time at all,the pertinance of my relationship with God, and all that is going on in my life became obvious. I could see so many parts of my life in Mack, so much of him in me. I, too, have my own ‘great sadness’, nothing close to that of Mack, but to me far too engulfing.
The Shack, opened my eyes to so many areas in my life where I need to make changes, seriously look more into forgiveness, be less judgemental..so much more. God came to me at a moment when I was close to my lowest, and invited me to a shack for some one on one.

I thank you for sharing this outside of your family. By the time you see this, we will have met, as you are speaking at our church in Lake Country this evening. There are so many I can’t wait for, to read this book.

By the way….after I finished my time at the Shack, I went back and caught my limit.