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History Of The Book A Brief Summary Papa "The real underlying flaw in your life is that you don't think I am good. If you knew I was good and that everything-the means, the ends, and all the processes of individual lives-is all covered by my goodness, then while you might not always understand what I am doing, you would trust me. But you don't." Mack "You mean I can't just ask, "What Would Jesus Do?" Jesus (chuckling) "Good intentions, bad idea. Let me know how it works for you if that's the way you choose to go. Seriously, my life was not meant to be an example to copy. Being my follower is not trying to 'Be like Jesus, it means for your independence to be killed. I came to give you life, real life, my life. Jesus cont'd "We will come and live our life inside of you, so that you begin to see with our eyes, and hear with our ears, and touch with our hands, and think like we do. But we will never force that union on you. If you want to do your thing, have at it. Time is on our side." Mack "This must be the dying daily that Sarayu was talking about." Sarayu (Holy Spirit) "Jesus didn't hold on to any rights.; He willingly became a servant and lives out of His relationship to Papa. He gave up everything, so that by His dependent life He opened a door that would allow you to live free enough to give up your rights." Papa "Just because I work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedies doesn't mean I orchestrate the tragedies. Don't ever assume that my using something means I caused it or that I need it to accomplish my purposes. That will only lead you to false notions about me. Grace doesn't depend on suffering to exist, but where there is suffering you will find grace in many facets and colours." Papa ""I just want you to be with me and discover that our relationship is not about performance or you having to please me. . . I am good and I desire only what is best for you. You cannot find that through guilt or condemnation or coercion, only through a relationship of love. And I do love you." Papa "Honey, let me tell you one of the reasons it makes no sense to you. It's because you have a small view of what it means to be human. You and this Creation are incredible, whether you understand it or not. You are wonderful beyond imagination." Papa "Just because you make horrendous and destructive choices does not mean that you deserve less respect for what you inherently are-the pinnacle of my Creation and the center of my affection" Papa "My purposes are not for my comfort, or yours. My purposes are always and only an expression of my love. I purpose to work life out of death, to bring freedom out of brokenness and turn darkness into light. What you see as chaos, I see as a fractal. All things must unfold, even though it puts all those I love in the midst of a world of horrible tragedies-even the one closest to me." "Mack realized he was stuck, and Sunday prayers and hymns weren't cutting it anymore, if they ever really had. "You're talking about the church as this woman you're in love with; I'm pretty sure I haven't met her. She's not the place I go on Sundays." Jesus "That's because you are only seeing the institution, a man-made system. That's not what I came to build. What I see are people and their lives, a living, breathing community of all those who love me, not buildings and programs." "An awful lot of what is done in my name has nothing to do with me. And is often, even if unintentional, very contrary to my purposes. I don't create institutions - never have never will." Jesus cont'd "Remember, the people who know me are the ones who are free to live and love without any agenda." Mack "Is that what it means to be a Christian?" Jesus "Who said anything about being a Christian? I'm not a Christian." Jesus cont'd "I have followers who were murderers and many who were self-righteous. I have no desire to make Christians, but I do want to join them in their transformation into sons and daughters of my Papa, into my brothers and sisters, into my Beloved." "Does that mean," asked Mack, "that all roads will lead to you?" "Not at all", smiled Jesus...."Most roads don't lead anywhere." "What it does mean is that I will travel any road to find you." Papa "I've been talking to you for a long time, but today was the first time you could hear it." My Favourite quote in the book: "I am particularly fond of you." In 1 Corinthians 1:27-30, Paul writes: "God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and he chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.28 He chose what the world thinks is unimportant and what the world looks down on and thinks is nothing in order to destroy what the world thinks is important.29 God did this so that no one can brag in his presence.30 Because of God you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God. In Christ we are put right with God, and have been made holy, and have been set free from sin." |
