Very cool indeed.

I love Lawrence’s journal! That last line reminds me of a commercial…

Papa says, “Can you hear ME now?” !

He has quite a network. ; ‘ )

Mark

I approached The Shack cautiously, wondering if it would smack of New Age stuff or do harm to the Scriptures. I rejoice that it has done neither. I am about two-thirds of the way through the book, and feel like I am enjoying and experiencing Papa’s presence, Jesus’, and Sarayu’s as much as Mack is. It has created a deeper hunger in me to shed all pretense, all independence, all false paradigms, and to know and walk and talk and hear God constantly and completely! What a gift to the Church, and to those who will be called to it! Thank you, Willie, for writing it. Thank You, Lord, for inspiring it!

An AMAZING book. . .I read it in just two sittings. I received 12 copies of it in the mail yesterday so that our Women’s Bible Study this summer can dig DEEP into the Scriptures that are woven into THE SHACK. Can’t wait to share in the discussions with other sisters-in-Christ. Looking forward to the Lord revealing more of himself through our prayer and study. . .and just spending more time in his Presence. “His love has no limit, His grace has no measure, His power no boundary known unto men, for out of his infinite riches in Jesus, He gives and gives and gives again.”

Wonderfully written Pastor Lawrence. I just got off the phone with my father after he finished The Shack (I asked him to read it after I did so we could discuss it). My father is also a Pastor. He was raised in a culture steep with legalism but it was never prominent in his heart. In fact, he is the most gracious man I have ever known and has always encouraged me to err on the side of grace. By nature, I tend to attract to legalism - grace is far harder for me to grasp though I cannot blame my precious family for this. Because of this, The Shack shook me up in many ways though I was so deeply moved by it. I wanted dad to read it as a “double” check. Verdict is in. He is buying more copies to distribute. I end this post un-unstumbled and touching the Son at Calvary.

I walked into the book store just looking for something to read, picked up “The Shack” by chance (if there is really chance–I am wondering MORE after reading this book). I feel so blessed that Papa did trust and know Paul enough to reveal this part of Himself to him, and gave Paul what it takes to share it with everyone who has read this book, and expecially me–by chance.
Thank you so much Paul. Thank you Papa!!
Sharon

HiPaul,
I got an e-mail from my old Youth Pastor Sharon just two weeks ago greatly encouraging me and others to go and get your book, The Shack. I was intrigued but put it off for a few days until finding it on the shelf of my local Wal-Mart store. I picked it up and the rest is history! I read it in two days and was entirely blessed. I was challenged in many areas and yet, in times of discomfort I saw and felt the very fingerprints of God woven in the words. There was many personal awakenings that occured in me as I flipped the pages, reading truth’s after truth’s. Like a collector of fine jewels I hid them in my heart…and I am fully aware I must go back and slowly reread this book to get a better digestion of the many, many life changing treasure’s along the way. I have been spreading the word to anyone who will listen! I sent out a bulletin to all my myspace friends regarding this book and have encouraged many people around me to go get a copy. God also laid it on my heart to purchase some copies for those He instructs me to bless. As I sit here and type this our town is suffering from daily fire outbreaks and I just was thinking my prayer would be in this moment,
“Dear God of my heart and life and Papa of All Mankind, May this book bring the fire of God deep into our souls and that it would burn away all the old chaff of ideas, and binding religion and God, as the old dies away may there be an abundance of New Growth in you…flushering in Your love and truth and Lord, Develop a deep hunger in all of us to dive deeper…Away from the choas of life…the splashing of those around us, stealing our attention and our time and our peace. May we dive deeper to find the Pearl of Great Price…You and You alone.
Amen, and amen.
Thank you for writing a book that has caught on like a wild fire. Because of your obedience God is going to do GREAT things!
In Love and Support,
Ahna

I just want to say, I have been moved by this book in way
I still cannot fathom. I am now in my fifth reading and STILL am gaining new insights with each reading.
I call the Holy Spirit Sarayou now and Father, Papa. It seems to make them more personal for me.
I don’t know if I mentioned this in my first e-mail in May, but I have struggled with the image of our heavenly father most of my life. As a child I was abused by a foster father and whipped and beaten by a different one. So trust issues are one of my push buttons.
I have felt real comfort in this book, perhaps that is why I continue to come back to it every week or so.
Most of those I have shared this book with have like it and received a lot from it.
I have been able to forgive the man who abused me, though he has been dead for many a year and that has freed me to love others more.
So thank you, Papa for inspiring Paul to write this book and bless this book to bless others as it has me.

I was checking the CBD website t see if I could buy the book there for a reduced price so that I could share it with others. I truly enjoyed the story as I read it. It made me rethink my own relationship with God and see His attempts to reach me in a new way.

I was quite disturbed by the small group of “naysayers” who repeatedly pointed out that the book was “New Age,” misleading, heretical, and more. I never saw it that way. The author does not try to say his book should replace our in-depth study of God’s Word. Rather, this story will make you want to search the Scriptures to see what is being said about various topics such as the personality of God, the Trinity, His life on earth, and more. I am saddened that there may be some who need to hear the story of love and redemption and relationship that is told in this book simply because their faith is not strong enough or is too rigid to allow God to be the unique Creator that I know Him to be. Why will believers continue to drive away seekers because of their own ingrained fears, misunderstandings, and prejudices???

Maybe we will ALL be surprised by the people we meet in heaven, just as some of them will be surprised to see rigid, unloving, unkind believers who have lived in fear all their lives, rather than a relationship of change and love and growth.

Hello to all who may read these words. May Papa Bless you all.I would like to know if I could what the symbols in the book mean? I loved every part of this story, & I know I will reread it many times. I have already encouraged others to read this book & I would love to know how I can obtain lots of copies, hopefully at a discounted price so I can share this beautiful story with lots of family & friends. Thank you Paul for allowing yourself to be used in such a special way. Love from your sister in Christ Kim

The Shack is Tozer meets Alice in Wonderland.

Our pastor highly recommended this book to us at the early service on Sunday. I was able to buy it afterwards, came home and read it in a sitting. Wow!!! There are so many things in it I have experienced myself - like looking at the old deeply lined face of a professor at a prayer meeting and it melting in front of my eyes to reveal a most beautiful young face. I was reminded of this when Mack suddenly saw flowers and a ‘new’ shack. What fascinates me is that it’s all imagined, yet totally biblical. What a gift!
Thank you Abba

Thank you for your book. I wrote a review on my blog and Amazon (and a few ning groups) today. Keep your eyes on Jesus as you’re being attacked. Love and prayers,
Robin

The Shack moved me immensely on both the spiritual and emotional level. At a time when I am somewhat isolated through various circumstances from the “process of church” i sensed the Holy Spirit with me as I read the story. Wonderment and amazement at the expanse of God and His love resonate in my soul while reading the story and I am reconnected to what we cannot see in that ther world of the spiritual realm and those loved ones who have gone ahead. I loved the reconnection with your earthly father, the excitement and the love which just could not be contained was very touching.Thank you for the rekindling of a spark and a flame in my life again for Papa.

I have been taken away by this book to a place of colors, bright and precious. I also read this book in 2 sittings, the first outside, surrounded by Papa’s handiwork, and moved to tears. I do not even know the changes that are being worked in me as a result of the mind-changing experience I have had with Him (all three of Him!) I am trying to digest all that He has tried to show me - I know I have missed more than I can ever see. This book will be read time and time again by people. My heart is so moved by it that I am speechless.

Thank you, Papa for this life changing read. I love you!

This book, like Mel Gibson’s movie The Passion of the Christ, is the most powerful revelation of God’s love that I’ve encountered…except for those times He spoke to me and gave me peace beyond understanding. I’m going back through The Shack with a highlighter and am letting God speak to my heart about His love and His will for my life.
The Shack edifies scripture, but doesn’t compromise it. While the Bible can sometimes seem sterile, The Shack reveals God’s love and wisdom in ways I can comprehend. True, the book is but a pale shadow of an indescribable God; but God truly is using this book to inspire and to communicate His love for every one of us.

Wow! What an awesome message delivered so simply! I am sharing this book with my teenagers (14,16) and of course my husband. Favorite part? God has no expectations of us, just expects a relationship. I see God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit differently because of this book. It’s ALL good!

Be Blessed.

The controversy this book has brought to Salt Lake City, Utah, saddens me. Our local LifeWay book store has chosen not to sell the book, because their customers demand it. After reading this book, I am sure this breaks God’s heart. At the same time I guess we should not be surprised at the ridicule The Shack is receiving, the book speaks “nuggets” of truth and light in to this dark world and the bible tells us this well happen. We need to join together and pray for relationships that can extend to those who are against Papa and let Jesus reach them, as He reached us. At least that is what a “nugget” I got from this book.
I look forward to reading this book many times in the future.

I have just finished reading The Shack through a recommended by a friend. It has changed me and I believe it should be on the movie screen to change others. In reading the book I envisioned the cast from Touched by an Angel depicting the roles: Tess(Dela Reese) as Papa, Monica (as Sarayu) and Andrew as Jesus. It will make a phenomenal movie like the Passion of the Christ. It needs to be viewed by many so they can interpret for themselves and be blessed by the story.

This book has touched me deeply. Having lost a daughter of my own 12 years ago, it was like looking into a mirror.
Mack and I had many of the same questions and fellings.
I have been a believer for 45 years. I now see the trinity in a new light.
This book was truly devinly inspired. It will take many readings and much study to get all of what God is trying to show me. I look foward to the journey. Thanks for letting God use you to reach me and others.

I believe it’s probably true that The Shack is either loved or hated. I experienced this myself (I loved.) My brother (very close ties w/ a seminary and what I call a legalistic theology, even though he’d not admit it) pretty much hated the book. He actually just skimmed it then hopped on some website that criticized most of the book.

I so want my brother to experience Him like I have. He and his camp actually believe that God only speaks to us now through scripture! I asked my brother that if God does speak to us in other ways would he ask God to show him. I got no response back…

Amen Sister!

I, too, read the book in just two days at the recommendation of 3 different friends. Amazing!! I love when a work of fiction causes me to take a look at myself and what I believe. Thank you for helping me to have a better understanding of who God is through the characters you created. I have bookmarked several pages and plan to go back to take notes and have some personal study. I didn’t necessarily agree with all of the theology, but then I don’t think you expect anyone to do so. My favorite part was that priorities should not have a hierarchy, but that Christ should be in the center of it all!

What a great awakening to the relational and intimate God of the universe. I see it as a challenge not of doctrine but relationship. God does want to be personal, and He did initiate the relationship through Jesus Christ. Could we all develop that relationship to be less religious and more personal?

I read and throughly enjoyed “The Shack”. I picked it up in the book store simply because it looked interesting and seemed like it would be a quick read. I was not expecting it to be so thought provoking.It puts the trinity into a whole different and interesting perspective. It was hard to keep in mind sometimes that it is a work of fiction. As good as it is, and I will certainly reccomend it to many of my friends, we should keep in mind it is “fiction”. It gave you pause to think about God’s total love for all of creation. I will keep it in my library as a favorite read.

The anointing of the Holy Spirit is all over this book! And after walking in a face-to-face relationship with God for 33 years…I find it absolutely confirms the reality of relationship I have experienced myself.

Characteristically, when the Holy Spirit is upon a word, a work…the hearer (reader) actually “hears” MORE THAN they are hearing…and the seer actually “sees” MORE THAN they are seeing. Meaning that though the literal words describe one set of circumstances…the anointing “cuts through” to the personal revelation the receiver needs at that moment…thus drawing that one into a real encounter with the Living God concerning their own life and experiences. And it heals, transforms, explains, and sets in order the things the receiver needs, personally, to go forward in their relationship with God…resulting in LIFE! Spirit LIFE! That, in turn, reaches out to others carrying forth the circle of life and relationship that is the heart’s desire of God for us all!

Thanks so much for sharing HIS HEART and for not “burying” the gift of expression He has graced you with! MUCH LIFE will FLOW through this book!!! Many will breakthrough into a warm, intimate, personal relationship that was their’s all along…just waiting for them to open their heart and allow HIM to step inside.

Looking unto JESUS,
Sandy

My heart rejoices when I read the stories of people so affected by the book… better yet, by Papa Himself.

People (including your spouse, your pastor, other Christians, etc) will always let you down. Jesus never will. Accepting people the way Jesus does is a big awareness I got from this book. It’s tough, as a human, not to judge others. He’s inviting us all to step through our ‘human fears’ into a very exciting relationship and adventure. He loves us more than we can probably put into words.
Blessngs, Larry

I have not stoped weeping. God has meet with me through this book. And I am forever greatful to the Holy Spirit’s inspiration that is clealy all over the pages of this book.

I too read this book in two days (I can’t remember the last time I did that). It was an incredible journey that rocked my sometimes cold, static theology and helped me to see relationship(s) in a whole different light. By nature, history of pain and broken relationships “in my formative years”, and too often by choice, I have struggled with totally accepting God’s love to me and through me, and therefore struggle with intimacy with God and others. This book breaks down barriers; barriers of the heart! Thank you Jesus for your total commitment to relationship to those who have chosen to pick up their cross and and follow you in faith. What a journey!

I am a bookstore manager and read your book out of curiosity (it’s selling really well!). My life has been a slow transition from ahteist to agnostic to believing in god but struggling to come to terms with Jesus and the trinity (what can I say, I was raised Unitarian). Your book has given me a new appreciation for Jesus that I’ve not felt before. Than you.

I was given a copy of “The Shack” after hearing about it from others. I ran out to buy my own copy and several others to share. My prayer is that everyone from every walk will read it with God’s grace to understand the meaning to die to self and know the true meaning of our very purpose..to love one another with out expecting anything in return. For God is the Glory forever and ever.
Amen.

Was glad to find it here in South Africa in our local Christian book store…

This book really helped me with my journey with Father…

Gave my book away yesterday… will have to go and get another tomorrow..

I have been going through a very difficult time just now and while reading THE SHACK God spoke to me loud and clear! What an amazing story and what a wonderful gift to all who read it. I was especially spoken to by these words ‘visit the past but don’t linger, stay in the present, don’t go into the future or your imagination as that is trying to control the situation’ allow PAPA to control all of life and rest in Papa’s love for me. THANK YOU FOR THIS WONDERFUL BOOK!!

Dear Paul,
This book has brought an amazing new insight in how I view “God”. I could not put it down and read it in a day.
I plan on sharing this with friends and know that they will be touched by this story too. God the Father, Papa, ABBA, daddy, the Christ Jesus and the Spirit has certainly blessed you with an amazing gift. I hope that we do not miss your OHIO visit

Just finished reading it and Wow
Glad for this book and the hope and joy it conveys.
Glad for the insights too….inspires my summer Bible reading and prayer …and most of all encourages me to persevere in a closer dependent but bold relationship with God instead of being stuck at times in the scared independence-from-God life the world systems instruct.

WOW! Thank you so much for this wonderful book. “The Shack” was recommend to me by the church I attend. We have been studying more deeply the Trinity and living in the fullness of the relationship that God has called us to, by the Holy Spirit, through Jesus. This book more fully confirmed in me what we have been studying to be true. I have and will encourage my family and friends to read it. I pray they come to know how much God loves them and desires a relationship with them.
Blessings,
Christine

I have never read a book that was so inspirational and understandable in how the Holy Trinity relate to their children. I lost my husband and two children twenty-two years ago on July 5th after a camping trip, when we were struck by a drunk driver. I can definitely relate to many of the feelings expressed by Mack. While lying in the wreckage, I remember crying out “God help me!”, and He did! He blessed me with the release of forgiveness of the man who caused the wreck, while I was still in ICU. Even though I felt the need to fight for justice to be brought to the man for several years, I eventually realized the fact that God was in control and He would not let an evil act ruin my life. I am very happily married to a wonderful man now whom God placed in my life. But still every year on the 5th of July, I go over the events of that life changing day and never have regretted being the only one who lived through the accident. Thank you for writing this book.

I just finished reading “The Shack” and am awed by it’s insights. Thank you for sharing this beautiful story with the world.

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Going through some really tough trials, I thought I had been abandoned by God—until my daughter gave me her copy of The Shack to read. I am now into my third reading and am underlining and highlighting every section that relates to the relationship Papa, Jesus, and Sarayu have with me. I am so blessed that I wake up each day expecting more Words of Wisdom from my Lord. I am giving the book to friends of mine whom the Lord lays on my heart with a heartfelt prayer that they will be as touched as I was, am and always will be by a book that has opened a new relationship with my Papa, Jesus and Sarayu-my Holy Spirit. I have a new relationship and I am so excited to see what each new day brings. God Bless you for writing this fantastic book.

I am so happy I “stumbled” upon this book and am even happier that it nearly jumped off the shelf at me. Sadly, I (and I am sure many more) identify with Mack’s childhood experiences - but have been so filled with joy over reading Young’s translation of Mack’s encounter with God’s love, healing and forgiveness. Thank you Mr. Young. I needed that - and didn’t even know how much.

Paul, I LOVED your book! The way in which you portrayed The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit, and their relationships with one another and with the protagonist Mack, was simply magnificent. I also truly appreciated the fact that you didn’t give too many details regarding the tragedy that befell the character Missy. You described what happened to her in a delicate and respectful manner. Additionally, the twists and turns that the story line took made the book extremely interesting. I believe that it will be enjoyed by, and a blessing to, an untold number of people world-wide.

I do have one problem with your writing, however, that I wish to share with you. It’s not about what you have written in your book; it’s about what you have written on your web-site. I don’t think it is appropriate for you to continue to write as if you are speaking for God, i.e., Papa’s response to Pastor Lawrence Rae’s comments about “The Shack” and your dialogues with Papa about certain book/author reviews. I believe that these adhoc writings of yours may serve to diminsih your credibility as an author, and the credibility of your book as a work of inspirational fiction. -Laura Shickel, Newton, NJ

I’m a fairly new christian, having been through a very emotional and difficult time in past years. I had so many questions that never felt answered. This book has opened my eyes and heart with fresh enthusiasm, I want everyone to experience this book, to cast off old fashioned beliefs. This book blows away any other book I’ve read, apart from the Bible (of course) Amazing, what more can I say. Thank you for writing this book and Praise Papa for leading me too it!

I am writing as a follow up to the statement I made yesterday, in the second paragraph of my entry, regarding Paul coninuing to write (on his web-site) as if he were speaking for God.

Thankfully, Paul responded to me to clarify the fact that Pastor Lawrence Rae’s journal entry was written entirely by him…’Lawrence to Papa’ and ‘Papa to Lawrrence.’ I didn’t understand that when I first read it, and I sincerely apologize for assuming it was Paul responding as Papa.

Now, I am requesting an explanation concerning “The Beauty of Ambiguity” (on this web-site), where Paul wrote of a lengthy dialogue between him (Paul) and Papa (God) regarding book/author reviews? I am hopeful that Paul will respond again, and will post what he says.

Beth
all we can do is pray for your brother and those like him.
someday they will see that God did not want us to be tied down and wrapped up in “rules” Those are created by man not by Papa. This book is so powerful I pray that sarayou uses it for what was intended. In Jesus, peace to all.

Life became so simple. Just live in the moment surounded and steeped in Fathers’ love, Jesus beside me and The Holy spirit dwelling within.

Darryl Hunt

Thank you Lord… thank you Paul…

After hearing about your book from one too many people, I gave into Sarayu and stopped by LifeWay to pick up a copy of my own. Unable to locate the book, I asked an associate if they carried it. No. We cant… I mean, No” was his quick reply.

Tempted to take offense, I turned to leave the store when Sarayu prompted my heart to “get over it” and I decided to take a peak on the clearance shelf before leaving. And there it was, waiting just for me, my copy of The Shack.

I turned to the associate I had spoken with only moments before and smiled, “Look, you do carry it!” He quickly informed me that the book had been pulled for review. He then rationalized that they must have “approved” it. I mused to myself, knowing that Papa was the One who had approved it! Just for me

I can’t tell you how refreshing your account was. Many experiences I’ve had with the Lover of my soul paralleled with those you shared in your book. Everything from moments of Papa “limiting Himself” so we could share a laugh… to revelations of a place much like you shared with sights and sounds and visions beyond comprehension. God has also taken me to the place of “no pain”, so beautiful… so perfect… creation in it’s fullness.

So many of God’s kids just don’t understand how much they are LOVED! Thank you again for a work of grace to carry us from glory to glory. May Papa bless you abundantly for your faithfulness to His call…

Here to Serve - Deb

I have been affirmed and re-awakened in my faith since reading The Shack. In fact, I have gently introduced this great story to many of my friends and family. Several have purchased or borrowed the book, and are finishing it as I write. I will continue to introduce people to a book that so beautifully explains a living God…one that, for me, had been pushed away by rules and regulations. I am so thankful that I stumbled upon this book.

In our Portland paper, it has reached #1 for paper back sales. Maine is a better place for all the people reading this.

Dearest Paul,
It is quite an open and honest entry. I really enjoy it and am already sharing it. It would be a great if the opportunity to meet this person.

Your young brother in Hawaii

I just finished The Shack and I am still reeling from all there was to absorb. The first thing that came to me was the “unconditional love” of God… I was always taught that He loved me unconditionally but I know I didn’t ever grasp even a fraction of what that meant. I grew up in a very legalistic church until I was in my late teens… I always felt like I could be squwashed like a bug at anytime for not being “perfect” in God’s eyes. I feel bad that I was chained by that preception for so many years but I am so excited by my life & thankful now that the chains of shame & guilt have been removed. This book has helped me see even clearer the true love of my Savior & it has given me a desire to share that Love with others that need to know true freedom. Thank-you Paul for listening to the call.

hi, i read the shack and loved it.
I am from South Africa.
The book realy makes me think and i am so hungry for God. I love your relationship with God.AND I WANT THAT TOO!

I started reading the book because it sounded like it had a good plot than I found I did not want to put it down. I get car sickness anytime I try to read while riding in a car. I read the book all the way home which was a 3 hour car ride and never got car sick…wierd. The book touches my heart and pierces it. There are questions and thoughts swirling in my heart and mind that I can’t seem to grasp or settle down in an order. I saw and heard truth in this book. I have been a Christian for 15 yrs and still struggle with God loving me for just who I am and not for what I can do. I’m trying to get past God being portrayed as a woman or the description of leaving your body as one dreams as that offends me and reminds me of new age religion. But what I desire most of all is to be able to believe, know and experience the love of God as Papa. To live each day with the continual joy, love and peace that God offers and to be daily changed by the Holy Spirit. I loved the book where God says He is not disappointed by us…He knows how many times it will take to get through to us. And it helped me to be reminded that I am a work in progress and He doesn’t expect me to be done yet. It gives me hope and encourages me to seek a deeper more intimate relationship with Him. Thank you for writing this book and sharing your pain and your healing with us other weary travelers. We are in this world but not of this world. God Bless!

“The Shack” is a miracle in our fallen world. One thing I noticed during my second read is that God (Papa) is the primary one Who provides food/meals in the story. Is there an intentional connection between Papa, the main chef of delicious food in the story, and the fact that “bread, mana, feasts, etc…” food is such an important element of Scripture? We cannot survive on milk when we eventually need meat as we grow and mature in Him. Just curious if that’s an element intended by author William PAUL Young? Thank you for allowing God to speak through you!

I think we need to look to the scripture as to who God is. Jesus always refered to God as “My Father”. Whenever God showed Himself in scripture, it is always with reverence and awe. True, we cannot phathom God’s love,’s mercy and grace —- but no where in scripture does it even suggest that we will curl up in our Daddy’s lap. And Jesus will come back to judge the earth with power and magisty. When the 7 seals are open, He will not be the gardner.

I purchased “The Shack” as a pre-release on audio from CBD. It was the best purchase I have made all year. I so enjoyed being taken for a weekend retreat like no other. The book refreshed my own desire to go to the scriptures and look for myself and see how God is my own “papa”.
I have prayed everyday that God would continue to bless you and encourage you.

I have had quite the spiritual work with our “Papa” over the years,and he does have quite the sense of humor…I was telling a friend that I needed a book to read to up lift my thoughts and feelings..3 days later the prayer was answered, my Aunt called to tell me about “The shack” and how she would buy it for me. My family have suffered alot of loss these past two years and one loss in particular, my Uncle was brutally murdered and it is still unresolved, yet, all fingers point to family members did it.– Anyways, she felt this book would help us all…I was lead by the holy spirit not to wait and go get the book and of course I listned…I read it in 3 days. “It is what I needed to be reminded.” Thank you for sharing and I will pay it forward to my family and friends…

I am still in the process of reading this book. I just happened upon it at the ligrary yesterday.Or did I just happen upon it? I started reading it early this morning, I am at chapter 15. I had to take a little break. This is not a book you can easily put down, once you start reading. I think this book is just wonderful… More than wonderful. To me, this book expresses my Father as so very real. He is so very real and he knows every part of us. I was brought to tears a few times already. There were some things in this book that really jumped out at me, such as judging. Not only judging others but also being judged by others. The love, the humor, oh my goodness, what more can I say . This is just such an experience. I see my Father in this person, I see my Jesus and the Holy spirit in these persons in this wonderful book! This is one of those books you don’t want to see come to a close. Thank you for writing it.

I just posted. Upon reading something further above my post I must say… I think Our Father, our Jesus is smiling on this book.I myself battled a long time with my thinking towards God. I battled with the whys of some things I have been through in my life. My questions? Why would God allow that to happen? Although a lot of things that happen in this world that are negative are wrought from our own bad decisions. For a long time I felt that God was out to get me. He was a scary God that I really didn’t want anything to do with. I felt that every little negative thing I did, he was going to send me some turmoil. We are the ones that don’t see clearly.We are the ones who cause the turmoil. I am so happy I have gotten to know my Father and my Jesus in a very different light, the true light.I believe you have a wonderful imagination, God given. I believe you must have a true and close relationship with your Father, Papa. This book is making my heart smile. God Bless You

I was wondering what that means our Pastor always quotes Toser.

Dear Paul - I cannot begin to tell you how much I enjoyed reading “The Shack”. My reading this book came about in such a strange way. My husband and I had a family reunion at our home, a couple of weeks ago. I was discussing with some of the family members some details regarding my recent, “near death” bout with a severe staph infection. We were discussing some of the spiritual events that occurred during that illness, that I will never forget. All of a sudden, one of my sister-in-laws (that refers to herself as the crazy sister-in-law, aunt, mother, etc.) walks over to me, hugs me, and whispers a prayer in my ear, praising God for his healing power. She kisses me on the cheek, and says, “I have a book I want you to read — It’s called “The Shack”.”. I thought, “The Shack” — what has that got to do with anything!?! She called this book her cliffnotes to the Bible. She said, “Girl, you have to read it! It will change your life!”.

Anyway, I could not get this out of my mind. The next day, I was walking through WalMart, looking at magazines, and, oddly enough, there it was — a copy of your book. So, I picked it up and put it in my basket. I didn’t even look inside it. I just put it in the basket. Keep in mind, I’m not a big reader, and I have never really put much stock in the advice of my sister-in-law, for numerous reasons. Ha! Ha! So, to continue with my story. My reason for being at WalMart in the first place was to pick up some food items for my 25 year old nephew (my sister’s son), who has been going through rough times on and off his whole life. He suffered a great deal of mental and physical abuse as a young child. And, at the present time, has lost his job, is separated from his wife and child, and recently spent a few days in jail. There are many more details I won’t elaborate on, but to sum it all up, he’s a hurt young boy, in a man’s body. The hurt just keeps going on, and on, and on. His situation has been weighing so heavy on my heart. So, I went to his house to drop off these groceries. He was very grateful, but sad. We talked a while, and I tried to reassure him that God was always with him, and would see him through this low time in his life. He said to me, with a little anger and sadness in his voice, “You and Mammaw (my mother who raised him) have been telling me that all my life. If God is here, why does He keep allowing all these things to happen? Why doesn’t He stop them? Why doesn’t He help me??”. All I could say was, “MACK (Yes, you heard me right. His name is MACK!), you have to have faith that God will see you through this. You are not alone!”. We talked a little more, and I left to go home.

Now, imagine how shocked I was when I got home and took out your book and began to read it!!! This story was about my Mack. This book touched me in ways I just can’t describe. It made me look at the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in a way that I never thought of before. The healing in forgiveness, and the unconditional love of Papa just brought tears to my eyes. It’s the way you expressed it all. I could not put it down. My Mack needs to read this. Maybe it will touch him in the same way it touched me. I just bought three more copies of the book: one for Mack; one for my mother; and one for my pastor, who said he had heard of the book, but had not read it.

I want to thank you for the beautiful way that you wrote this story. I will never look at my “crazy” sister-in-law the same way again!! Ha! Ha! She truly gave me a gift.

Praise God from Whom All Blessing Flow!!
Cheryl Haydin

I just read “The Shack” in 24 hours…I’m telling everyone about it. What an amazing book! I have a new and refreshing perspective of God. This was not you writing…you were simply being used!

Thank you for this gift!

Blessings,
marcia erickson

P.S.

I work with Greg Boyd (author of Letters from a Skeptic and Myth of a Christian Nation) at Christus Victor Ministries and he wrote a post on his blog on “The Shack”. You may read it here:

http://gregboyd.blogspot.com/2008/06/shack-review.html

Blessings again
marcia erickson

Paul…I just finished your book yesterday. My daughter and wife have also read it. In fact, my daughter was at Mariners Church in Orange, California to hear you speak. She was touched in meeting you personally and by the book. As well, I was touched by the book.

I find it interesting that our journey’s are somewhat similar. On September 9, 1995 I stepped into the “Kingdom of God” - a place where walking on water seems plausible and real and grace is completely and always available. It’s been an amazing journey, one in which God has shown me many of the things you’ve written about in The Shack. The images haven’t been as vivid as yours but none the less - I’ve come to know God as my friend, my mentor, my guide…my father - the one who loves me unconditionally. His (Papa’s) work is to make my heart whole - a work he continues to this day. In the meantime I’m learning to let go more and more each day and just relax in the middle of his caring heart.

So thanks for sharing yourself with the rest of us. God is at work and His work never ceases to amaze. - jim

I read the shack almost as if my life depended on it. I know some will think that is an exageration but it is not. As I read a deep longing opened in my heart for a Papa that would love me so deeply and completely. It was like all that I have ever longed for Papa to be was present in the book. I cried out to Papa in a way that I have never done. I opened my heart up to him in a way I never could before because of the legalism and paradigms I was raised with. I finally confessed to Papa my anger and sorrow of the abuses of my past and in so doing some of it was washed away. I am so grateful for this book and the Love of the Lover.

Words cannot describe how this book has touched my life. I could not put it down - I have told all my friends about this most unusual and wonderful book. I will be going back and reading it again and again. It made Jesus, the Holy Spirit and God so real and resonates the wonderful news of the everlasting love of God the Father for his children

Thank you!

Wow!!!! loved it!!!! spoke directly to my heart and it was personal. i felt that as we are created in Gods image that He brought into existence a simple but powerful book that made me (in particular) realize how easy it is to get into a deeper relationship with my/our Papa! Thank you!!!!!

We all put God in our man made box. After reading Tozer I realized that I needed to dig really deep to find out just who God really is. Tozer’s “The Knowledge of the Holy” was very challenging to read. Paul your book put Tozer’s words into a fictional masterpiece. I have been struggling to break free from the chains of my own independence of which ultimately leads to legalism and failure to keep His law. Your book helps me find that “true” freedom is giving up my independence. There is truly nothing you can do to earn God’s favor. He just “especially fond” of us no matter what we do for him. WOW! What a concept! I also really enjoyed the concept of how much time is enough to prioritize to Him in “quite time”. He wants it all! Every bit of our day should center in our relationship with Him. What a profound Saraya inspired work! I will share it with everyone I know.

I cannot begin to say how much I needed “PaPa” I grew up with a very violent abuse father. The story of Mack’s childhood was like reading my own. This afternoon, I came home for lunch and couldn’t wait to get to this site printed on the last page of the book. I some how got to another site where a man was basically speaking about what a disgrace this book was. He called it poison. I was so angry. Then it was like the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said don’t judge him, Papa says He will use the foolish things of this world to confound the wise.
I am so blessed and feel such a release in my spirit from reading The Shack. God can work in and through His people any way he wants. Who are we to judge! This writing has brought my Papa to where I am, a place where I can crawl on his lap and just be safe, loved , and secure.
Thank you, thank you! Papa is my all in all!

Hi Sharon,
I also approached the book slowly, I know it is a fiction book but to read anything for pleasure that is disrespectful to my Father’s word is not something I am willing to do. I have prayed and asked God to show me if there are conflicts to the Bible. Does it twist God’s word, so far I have not read anything like this. I saw William Young on the Today show yesterday morning and Ann Curry try to make the book sound new age but the author turned it right back to Jesus. I really liked that.
I have found that I can only read a chapter a day, I have to absorb before I can go on.

i’ve been a reader all my life and with some seriousness have told my family that every book changes my life….the shack has been a little more difficult to explain…wow!!!

I finished THE SHACK this morning and absolutely loved the telling and message. I then went to Church with a friend from out of town and was telling her all about the book. I was blown away when the readings at Mass mirrored Mack’s lesson. Here is the summary from our bulletin:
THE MERCY, POWER AND LOVE OF GOD
The first reading today, from the book of Wisdom, makes its point over and over, at least five times in five verses! God is mighty, but lenient to all. God’s power is shown in kindness and clemency, not in harshness and condemnation, and those who govern God’s people must govern in the same way, with kindness. This loving kindness and gentleness is not contrary to God’s might but is a direct result of God’s primacy over all. Who are we then to judge what is in the hearts of our fellow Christians and all people when God commands justice with love and clemency.
Likewise, the Holy Spirit makes up for our ignorance of what we need, speaking in a language we do not yet understand. But God knows our needs before we do, understands the intercessions of the Spirit and helps us in our weakness. This is our hope: God’s mercy, power and love.
This message reaffirms Papa’s words and I am truly thankful that your story opened my ears and heart so I could receive HIS WORDS AND LOVE!!!

My mother gave me this book to read, and I can only say it has changed both of our lives. I have already purchased more to give to friends who I know will be blessed by reading it. This book can only have been inspired by God. Never have I read anything that so clearly swept away the cobwebs and clearly answered all my most heartfelt and painful questions. And never have I felt so loved by God, and so tenderly treasured by Jesus. To everyone who is behind the release and publication of this book, including its author of course!… Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!! Lives will and have been transformed because of your hearts being open to our loving and wonderful Papa!

My Aunt Susan in Texas sent this book to my mom and WOW i sure need to write her a letter of thanks also. My mom, dad and I have all read it and I cant begin to tell you what it has done for me. I have a greater understanding Of Papa, Jesus and the Holy spirit than ever before.I have a joyful song in my heart now that i just cant explain. The Book really changed my life. I have grown up believing in Jesus. I was raised in an assembly of God church in Texas and continued church when we moved to Ohio. I never really Got What Papa was really all about and how much his love for each of us has no end until i read this book. I have been telling everyone and we purchased a few copies to be passed around.This smile on my face just wont go away now. Thank you so much Paul for letting Papa work in your life so that we all have this opportunity to read this wonderfully amazing book.

This book was recommended by a friend. She told me a little about it. I was suspicous. I thought if might be full of new age theoolgy. I was wrong and I was delighted.I am a slow reader anyway, but I read it in 5 days. I believe that many people will be blessed after reading this book. I bleieve the wounded and abused will find answers to many of their questions.

Thanks be to God that He encouraged you, guided you and inspired you to write one of the most poignant books I’ve read! I’m reading it again and finding something new. I usually read “how-to books”…you know the kind, “How to Be A Better Daughter, Wife, Co-Worker, Parishoner, Mother, Friend….” fill in the blank! This tells it all…Love God with all your heart, soul and mind and all the rest will fall into place. I have purchased and given away 10 copies as gifts just so I could have others to talk with about it! Thank you for opening my heart and mind and helping me draw closer to God, Jesus, Holy Spirit…Blessed Trinity! May you feel the love and gratitude of others whose lives you have been touched by God’s love. Continued success to you as you follow the will of God for you life.

What an amazing, powerful, wonderful book. I am reviewing it for our Church news letter. I have been so blessed by this book that I really do want all my many friends and family to read it. Thank you so much. I have always wanted God to be able to relate to our generation and this does that for me and I know from everyones comments that I have just read that many many others feel the same way.May God’s richest blessings be upon you.

Scripture tells us that Christians are to be known by their fruit. Critics seldom produce any fruit, and even that is bitter. What Willy has done has glorified God, and the simplicity of the message of God’s love has freed so many who were imprisoned by religion. The fruit of The Shack is evidenced by those who can now say that they love God more, feel closer to Him, and that they have learned to love others because of the kind of love God has for us. The Shack also offers hope and peace; and these are good fruit so we know that God is pleased with Willy and his story of Mack.

Many, if not most Christians, are attracted to God out of a fear of Hell more than they are to a God of love. They wake up every day wondering if God is mad at them; and they accomplish very little for the Kingdom because they bury their gifts in the ground in fear of a brutal, righteous God. Papa, Jesus, and Sarayu reveal the side of God that we all want but feel we’re undeserving of.

Lives have been changed, God’s Kingdom has been impacted positively by The Shack. The world is a better place because more people know the vastness of God’s love and they are free to love others as well. Every person needs to experience the hope found in this book.

To say that the shack spoke to my heart would be like calling the world’s oceans a puddle.I will never think of Poppa in the same way . The rivers of “healing Waters” that flowed almost continuosly from my own “lake of Childhood tears ” was the most cleansing bath I have ever enjoyed.
Well done Good and faithful servant
Imago Dei
Kenneth E Metzger

While at a local hospital with my 18 y/o having a tonsillectomy, I read (devoured) The Shack. My 16 y/o son died January 8, 2004 in a car accident. Love and answers were given to me through this book. LITERALLY, I finished the book, put it in the chair beside me, and walked outside the hospital to collect my thoughts. I looked toward the E.R. and saw a small gathering of crying, hurting people. My Father spoke to me and directed me to those people. There I found a grandmother whose 17 y/o granddaughter had JUST died from smoke inhalation from a house fire. There was also a 15 y/o sister to the teen who died, who escaped the fire. This was the FIRST time that God had put me in a position to be where I was 4 1/2 years ago…the Mother who felt the raw, agonizing pain of losing my son…He put me there to minister to this lady and the 15 y/o sister. He gave me the words to calm and soothe these ladies at their most agonizing moment. I was able to share of Papa who LOVES them…a Papa who is strong enough, has long enough arms, and enough love to see them through this horrible time.

Without reading the book first, I’m not sure that I could have gone to them. But, for the first time, I KNOW that God has used the pain of my son leaving this world for HIS work through me. That God put me where he did at that exact time still amazes me even as I write this. He gave me strength, His words, and His love to share. I will never be the same after yesterday.

“Thanks, Dad, for giving these words to Willie. I am fond of You, too!”

Jackie

Since my failed marriage in 2004, I have often felt like I have the scarlet “A” plastered to my forehead when I attend a new church or have a conversation with church leaders. While at one time I was active in summer missions and vacation bible schools, I have been relegated to filling a pew. Instead of thinking I have great gifts to share with the world, I have started thinking that perhaps my purpose in life is to just raise my son to be a Godly man. After all, who would listen to a divorced woman?

Last week as I was on my way to do some back to school shopping, I heard a favorite radio announcer talking about The Shack. He used phrases like, “This book will transform the way you view God.” It just so happened that as I was checking out at one of the stores, I saw The Shack next to the register. I did not hesitate to grab it and give it to the clerk.

This book came to me at a very difficult time in my life. I’ve cried out to God so many times, not unlike Mack just prior to turning back and heading toward the shack, and I must admit that I have sometimes wondered if He was too busy to hear me. Reading The Shack has given me a renewed spirit. Although I know God is not the physical image described, I took comfort in imagining a large, black woman wrapping her arms around me while Sarayu catches my tears. And Jesus…the character description fit my Savior so well.

What the world would be if we all strived to know the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as shown through Mack’s experience in The Shack!

Thank you, Willie. You’ve done well.

Has anyone linked the scripture references to the points that were used in the text? I was wondering if that is out there? This book was great and I would like to use it as a book discussion.
Thanks,
Tom

Dear Papa,

Thank you for Wille’s refreshing story. Your creative inspiration melted our hearts and blessed our vision. We felt akin to his suffering and yours in us. Your lovely gentleness soothed the deepest core of our being and brought healing ointment to our souls.

My blind eyes opened,
Where I saw inside,
Darkness so binding,
I crumbles and cried.

Stumbling in despair,
Lies, and cruel pride,
Your touch refining,
Opened vistas wide.

Jesus as Joseph,
With divining cup,
Helped me see inside,
Where His love resides.

J.E.H.

I’ve been a christian for 30+ years and never doubted God’s love for me until my family went through a very terrible tradedy a few years ago and it was then that I started to have doubts about His love. I wondered so many time “why” it happened to us or “why He let it happened. After reading this wonderful book I now have so much more understanding of God’s love for His children. It also has helped me to forgive those by whom the hurt came. Thank you so much for your book and I know it will help so many others who are dealing with a great loss.

A friend in our church bookstore recommended The Shack to me as I was getting ready to leave for a long summer trip out west to dig dinosaurs (that Papa sent me on this year had not been planning to do — but I digress). Well I read the book on way out and ran smack dab into what Papa wanted to show me on this trip about him. I have been growing alot lately in new directions Papa has been leading me in, but this book overwhelmed me. I also listened to the audiobook on the way back for the last two days to Illinois and it overpowered me as many have spoken. I got even much more from the Audio book

Thank you Paul for following the lead of Sarayu and writing this. Papa has spoken and revealed much more to me than I ever have realized and I thought the last two years have been amazing enough, but the ride seems to not be over yet

As I thought more about The Shack with the audiobook as I drove 1100 miles in last two days I am convinced that Papa through Sarayu was speaking right to me that this was something He wanted me to know and part of the reason He sent me out west to cooperate with him in something he was doing for a friend of mine. It seems the trip was not just for my friend but a time for me to encounter Him in this book and other times during past 6 weeks and again with audiobook on way back. It was so important I wanted to add my comments here and thank you for being a channel of Papa’s love to each of us. May he bless each of your days with more of his awesome and great love.

Be blessed! A fellow child of Papa!

Russ Jacobson

I am still digesting and rereading this wonderful book. I would like to do a book study with a group. Has anyone prepared a study guide for the book? There are so many important, inspirational, thought provoking passages.

Still in awe of this life changing book.

Maria

I love the book and ordered a bunch to give to friends.
The Shack really helped me come to grips with the Papa God I met in a time of great trial in my life. I sat for three months with our dieing child in a hospital. I could not attend church so it was just God, my bible and me. He wrapped His arms around me and comforted me. His love showed me that whatever happened it would be OK. Our son did die but it wasn’t that, that distanced me from God. It was going back to our Church at the time. Such a different God was preached than the one that I had come to know.
Thanks for showing me again, who He really is.
Lori

the above is cool,but i must tell you paul,i caught you on james robersons show at noon today,the lady in the front row,crying ask you how do i find my shack-you ask her up and held her close,i felt and saw papa smile on you both.it may have been the greatest display of love and grace i have ever felt and seen on any tv show or service in church-god is useing you and blessing me and many others-stay loveing and in his sweet spirit-we all will gain from it-ron

Wow! Just returned from a short term mission to Honduras and bought the shack in the Houston airport. Finished it within 48 hours and am ready to read it again! Everything I have been learning about our Father is referred to in The Shack and more. I am not a “jump on the bandwagon” person and most Christian “best-sellers” leave me cold. But this book has comforted, stretched, distressed, and enlightened me. It has revealed aspects of God’s personality and love that I have come to know through personal struggles, tragedy and pain(much of it coming through religious people or their advice for living a godly life). Thanks be to God for those who aren’t afraid to speak the truth in love about God’s true nature and his grace. I am learning to “live loved” and to share it with others. Thanks William Paul Young for sharing this with me. I am praying about who to share this with next…
Papa’s forever.

I am a 55-year-old, white male, who has been a Christian (Southern Baptist) for 34 years. I love your book! Being a father myself, I cried a lot more than I laughed. I was truly touched by the expression of God’s love for me and all of His creation. There were many things that gave me deeper insights to concepts that I thought I already had wrapped up. Thank you. May God continue to richly bless you as He uses this book for His glory.

i read this book becuse my pastor says it was a great boo boy was she right. i have not feel so close to God as i did when i was reading it it one of the best book i have read in long time i realy know how mack felt i lost two sister they were killed and it took a long time to get over it this just let me know that God was there all the time i was so mad at him it also let me know how much he realy love his children.

The Shack was a beautifully written book on how we all should be with God. Having that close of a relationship would be and can be amazing. I think that anyone who is weak in faith or has lost their way should consider reading this book. With God it should be a comfortable loving relationship not a formal sit down. Thank you for writing this book.

I thought this book was so amazing. It touched me dearly and made me accept Papa into my life again. I’ll admit that I went through tough times committing sin and letting it eat me up from the inside, but this book helped me realized that He never left my side despite everything I had done. I continue to ask for forgiveness and He continues to forgive. I always knew Papa was there for me but found it hard to accept because of the evil I witnessed growing up. As a 20 year old, I’m glad my relationship with Papa is going in such a good direction. I pray I’m able to find out much more about His love. May He bless us all.

Thank you. Thank you so much.

My daughter was murdered 3 years ago. The turmoil from our loss is tremendous in our family. I pray that my other children will begin their journey of grieving, as God would want it. It took me a month to read this book as it was sometimes too overwhelming, I miss my daughter so much….
Thanks to God for this book, it has opened up the window of fresh air and I can see the beautiful hues of color that has always been before my eyes.

Thanks for a wonderful read! I have already recommended this book to a group of friends and my pastor. I used my highlighter and can’t wait to talk this over with some other people. It is definitely a conversation starter. I did not agree with every premise you made, but most of them. But it made me think and feel, and that is the purpose of life too - as we relate to and accept “Papa.” Thank you again.

…just finished reading all the posts…what a blessing to see how The Shack is touching so many lives. What a blessing! My wife Jan and I read the book this past week and have been discussing it at length. We are both mature (65 y/o) followers of Christ. The ministry of the Holy Spirit is a great wonder and encouragment through your obedience in writing brother Paul. We sent copies to our daughters, (48 and 29)who know our Father, our Savior Jesus and our Holy Spirit, but have not been walking with them. Our prayer is that now they will. And our 4 sons, grandkids, spirtual kids, etc,…

Reading the posts confirms the ministry of The Shack in many lives. Only a small percentage of the grateful people who have been life-touched by The Shack actually take the time or have access/know-how to post on this blog.

We are so greatful to Papa, et.al., for His Ministry through you brother Paul, and how you were able to ‘respond to the expetancy’ that Papa has had for you with all you’ve been through.

Brother Eugene Peterson is right on…”Pilgrim’s Progress for our generation”. Blesses our heart! Will continue to pray with/for you as we all move through the ‘todays’ going forward.

Peter and Jan

Well said, Sandy and AMEN!!!

Dear Mr. Young,
I was totally taken captive by The Shack and very disappointed when I finished it. I started slowly and skeptically and nearly tossed it aside. Then Mack met everyone and I am amazed at how I became him. After I read the facts about you on the website, I found the statement you made that touched me so deeply that I am forever changed. That statement about you was as follows ” of living with an underlying volume of shame so deep and loud that it constantly threatened any sense of sanity, of dreams not only destroyed but obliterated by personal failure, of hope so tenuous that only the trigger seemed to offer a solution.” That has been me, my life, which I now know is not without its blessings. Thank you for showing me how much Papa cares.

Fred Stang

WOW. I read The Shack in one sitting. I will go back to it often, I am certain. I am surprised and delighted that this story has opened the doors of my heart and mind. I have been struggling in my walk for some time now, steeped in legalism and knowing that something vital was missing! I now have a fervent desire to study the Bible, to find His truths, to seek a much more personal relationship with my loving Papa. I hope the naysayers will “be still and listen” for a moment and realize that this wonderful piece of fiction has the potential to bring many to a relationship with our Heavenly Father. If they’re like me, they will be eager to delve in the Bible for “the rest of the story.” THANK YOU!!!

I’ve just finished reading the book in 24 hours, this in the midst of caring for a special needs child. The circumstances surrounding his birth left me alone and distant from God.

Thank you for reminding that God is Good!

There’s just too much to write about here in a comment, but the book is beautiful.

Thank you!

I have read the book, and about to re-read it as I felt quite numb. It made me feel I didn’t know Papa Goad as I should, so I hope that I may come closer to Him in the second reading.

Sandy Brunson, YOU should write a book! what wisdom God has given you. I am printing your comment and using it as a bookmark in my bible.
I would love to correspond with you. I am a 68 year old female, and you would make a great pen pal. here is my email address, (without the 3 W’s) artventures1@juno.com

What I got from the book was the knowing that everything we do is always about relationship…….either positive or negative. I am going to pay more attention to my intentions!

Hello I just had to come by and tell you I read your book and I found myself in tears many times. It showed me how God wants us to view Him and how He wants us to come to Him as a little child. I have to admit I didn’t understand why the using of profanity in a supposedly Christian book, and I know that we are to be in the world and not of the world. So that kind of saddened my heart that that was a necessary part of the book especially when you say it was written for your children. But all in all it did touch my heart. Thanks for writing it. Lisa

Several times I had to stop reading the shack, I had to settle down my emotions and wiped out my tears.
I do hope the Chinese translation will soon be published, to encourage more people to work out the hard time and to walk through the shadow of our rugged road with faith, with Papa, inside of us.

I just finished your book. As a woman in recovery it was very powerful. I find my higher power is with me everyday as I continue this journey one day at a time. I am going to give this book to my fellow friend’s of Bill W. and maybe it will help explain things in a new light.

I finished reading the book 2 weeks ago and it was one of the best books I have ever read. God used you to fire me up about forgiveness and the amazing love that is ours to experience on a daily basis. I want everyone I know to read this book and plan on telling everyone I know about it and giving it as gifts to everyone I can. It must be awesome to know that your gift of obedience in writing and sharing has had an impact on so many people. WOW! It changed me and I a sure GOD will use it to change many. I makes me smile to see how God has a plan and will use any circumstance to work His PLAN OUT to draw men to Him.

Last night I was in the Waldenbooks book store at our local mall and noticed several copies of The Shack sitting on the counter by the register. Behind the books was a sign that asked, “Have you heard of this book?” I asked the cashier how the book was selling and she said that it is their best selling book at this time. What amazes her is that it has sold by word of mouth, not because Willie is doing book signings or because Waldenbooks is actively pushing the book. Obviously this is a God-thing.

I asked the cashier had she read it, and she hadn’t. Had no idea what it was about. She asked me what it was about and I didn’t want to ruin the experience for her and just advised her that it is the best book I’ve ever read. She promised to get her own copy and said that she was tired of reading the crap that fills her store now. She’s looking for something significant, and that’s what The Shack is.

At the same time, and I believe that Willy will attest to this, we must be careful to not worship the book to the degree that it gets more attention than Papa does. What it’s done for me is to open my eyes to the glory of God all around me; and to see God moving in my circumstances where before I thought He was too busy or too fed up to bother with me. The Shack brought God to life in a way that the scriptures hadn’t, but now that I’ve seen the real thing, I know that He was there when Willy was writing this story just for those of us who’s lives it would touch. This book is God’s idea and He is using it to meet needs He knows about and we can only imagine.

Thank you Lord, for sending us this beautiful picture of Yourself.

I finished reading The Shack about an hour ago. I have never before marked up a book as much as I did this one: underlining, starring, etc. I am so overwhelmed right now that I think I need to take a little while and then read it again so I can absorb it better. However, even the first time through I learned so many things about myself and even MORE things about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Now, I must figure out what to do with these things: how to just “be” in relationship with God. Mack suffered my worst nightmare…the loss of a child, not in a random accident, but at the hands of a monster. The answers he found are ones I needed to know, and I pray that I can move forward with my life, not worrying about when the other shoe is going to drop. I need to KNOW how much I am loved. Papa, can…will You help me?

This was probably the most amazing book I’ve ever read that deals with who God IS, and our purpose on this earth. If we all lived in a relationship (with God and others, not to forget ourselves), we could move the world with love.

Amen Willie,

Mark
markharrell.wordpress.com

Words can’t explain. That’s it…there is no way to explain how touching this book is. It’s incredible like no other. I can set in my front yard and look at the sky and at the same time I feel like I am looking at the waterfall, or the flowers or sitting on the dock looking at the stars while visiting the shack. I have no doubt this is just a taste of heaven. I love saying PAPA all day…just doing life together. What a gift you have given us!

Nancy, I believe the scripture references to God as Abba (daddy), reveals that as children we can do exactly that, crawl onto our father’s lap, lay our head against his chest and feel safe. If we do not have that model in our earthly father, it then becomes unimaginable, sometimes, with our heavenly father. As far as Jesus being a gardener, the book refers to the garden as Mack’s soul. In that respect Jesus would care for “all” of us, tending and nurturing our souls like a gardener tenderly cares for his plants. I agree that the Bible paints a picture of judgment and I’m not sure how all that will play out but I do know that God is a God of love, mercy and grace and if we focus on our relationship to him, God will take care of the other “stuff.”

I have been praying that God would do a great shake-up in the church. I didn’t think it would be an extreme make-over like this. I believe we as a body of Christ have forgotten the power we have been given us when we asked Him to be Lord of our lives.The “SHACK”, has really done that. Papa, Father God, you by the Spirits power gave everything that was needed,as you promised. Not only did Max find his relationship with you, fulling, but anyone who could let your Holy Spirit reach our inmost being,would be filled. Packed down, and running over, is what the Holy Spirit has done , and will continue to do, because of your obedience. To God Be the Glory, Great Things He Has Done.

I have just finished this book and it took less than a day to read. Once started I could not walk away from it. If you know the word you realize quiokly this is no common fiction .And if you have ever walked with the Holy Spirit you know these 3 intimately and recognize them.
Thank you for this book .There is a big hurting world who will read and look further into scripture they have never seen before. Now it will all be VERB .
Thank you again, Janis

I have just finished this book and it took less than a day to read. Once started I could not walk away from it. If you know the word you realize quiokly this is no common fiction and if you have ever walked with the Holy Spirit you know these 3 intimately and recognize them. If you haven’t you will long to know them.
Thank you for this book .There is a big hurting world who will read and look further into scripture they have never seen before. Now it will all be VERB .
Thank you again, Janis

Having read the book, passed a dozen copies onto friends and family, listened to it on CD and discussed it with those who are blessed and/or offended by it - The Shack is a wonderful reminder that it is and will always be Papa’s love that draws us, Jesus’ love that grows us, and the Holy Spirit’s love that shows us. May we choose to never be so “mature in the faith” that we forget our First Love.

GOD WROTE THIS!!! THANK YOU FOR LETTING HIM USE YOU PEN AND PAPER

I just finished The Shack yesterday; after my 13 year old son pointed it out in the book store I agreed w/him that it sounded like an interesting book. I had no idea to what depth the words within the covers would reach. I sometimes found it difficult to breath, and often cried; even now, I find my eyes tearing. It wasn’t just the subject matter of Missy’s horrible death, or Mack’s and his family having to deal with it, but the awsomeness of God’s Love and Tenderness. I have a close friend who is very much living a religous life who I wanted to share this book with, however, she found the idea of God presenting as a woman upsetting. I am, I’m sorry to say, not outwardly spiritual; I don’t go to church or read the Bible (I find it overwhelming), but I truly believe God is eternally with each one of us and around us, and the concept of God appearing in any form we can identify with doesn’t seem at all impossible or wrong. The Shack has meant so much to me in respect to how I’ve come to feel about my life and the life of the people around me. Thank you for touching my soul and making me cry. Before I end this, I wanted to say how difficult it was at first to decide what to do with the book; to keep it and reread it many times, to share it with my 21 year old daughter or 13 year old son, to share it with family, friends and co-workers? I felt an urge to leave it on a seat of the metro train I’d been riding, where I finished reading this wonderful book; I like to think that the person who picked it up may find it life-changing, and hopefully will in turn pass it on. For Christmas, I will be giving The Shack to those I love.

Thank You for sharing your insight and gifts with those who read your book.

I found The Shack refreshing. I deal with so many people that see God as ‘keeping score’ or ‘waiting to strike us down.” The Shack is a book I will give as a gift to those that are stuck in their own shacks. It so vividly portrays the need for forgiveness, both for ourselves and our forgiveness to others. It also breaks the barrier of a “God way up there!” I cried, I laughed, I rejoiced with Mack as he found healing. I love Papa!

I can’t tell you the last time I was this touched by a book. It was loaned to me by a dear friend and I know that I will be giving this book as presents to my family this Christmas.
I wanted to be right there with Mack. I laughed, cried and was very angry in parts but it all came together. I really felt like someone or something reached out and touched me, you know those little goose bumps that you get for no apparent reason. The book didn’t last long enough! But as humans we always want more don’t we?
Thank you for writing a wonderful book.

I just read The Shack, and at first I was a bit wondering if this was right, I have been raised in church since a very early age so there where things that made me kinda wonder if this was right at first, But I was going to read this to the very end just so I could make up my mind, before I was half way thru this wonderful book, I had to sit back and say well that answers alot of questions I’ve always had and I couldn’t find anywhere you where wrong in scripture. I’m no expert, but everything in me says your dead on! There was so many things as I was growing up that were unanswered for me but I just kinda skipped over it and thought well I’ll figure it out later, and like I said this book has answered those questions. I haven’t quit talking about this book to my family and friends and I think they are tried of hearing about it. It has really changed my way of thinking, and It has brought me closer to God, I feel like I can have the kind of relationship with him like I did when I was young. It made me remember the way I could talk to him as a child and it was so very simple back then. I really believe God was leading you to write this. I just wanted to say Thanks and God bless you and your family!
Diane

I have. If you like, I could send you what I have

Has anyone linked the scripture references to the points that were used in the text? I was wondering if that is out there? This book was great and I would like to use it as a book discussion.
Thanks,
Tom

I have. you can email me at garyjones@mail.com and I will send you what I have

I just finished The Shack…picked it up and finished it in one day. Not a hard task, but it seemed prolonged because Papa needed to speak to me through this book. I love that! By page 95 I was forced to put the book down because of spontaneous sobbing. I don’t remember the last time I felt God’s presence like I did today. I’m even starting to call Him Papa…I think He likes it too haha. Like Mack, it’s hard to believe that this is real…that I can be loved with such a fierce intensity that never dies. I want everyone I know to read this book. It has changed me…and for that, Willie, I am so grateful. Thank you for writing it!

I only want to say I have learned a few things about myself since reading The Shack. I only just finished it. Many years ago, I was touched by another book, The Listener. That book, like this one made a profound difference in my view of God, forgiveness and grace. I am in awe of your writing a book that can speak to so many people. Even though it was not written for me, it speaks to me in so many ways. Thank you!

Words can’t even begin to say how much I needed this book! I pass along any good book that I read and couldn’t wait til the next day to pass it along. It is now circulating the office. Thank you!

Just finished this most provocative book! It was passed to my husband by a co-worker, and my husband passed it to me, so I have to give it back! But I really need to read it again. Now that all the suspense and mystery of the fictional drama have been resolved (phew), I need to re-read so I can really, slowly reflect on all the paradigm-challenging articulations I just kind of blew through with the first read. They’re not new ideas, really, but I have somehow managed to distort them in my life to the point where I simply CANNOT seem to get off the performance plan, and am constantly feeling like the suckiest Christian ever. So this book was written for me! I’ll have to go buy a copy so I can digest it slowly enough for my sludge-filled brain to comprehend all the implications. Thanks, Willie. Expectancy vs. expectations . . . hmmmmmm.

This book is incredibly powerful. As so many of your readers have already stated, it is nearly impossible to put down. It has the power to transform lives. I know for me, I’m understanding the heart of my Father -Papa, in a new way. God is good, incredibly good.

PS: I grew up in Estacada Oregon. I had friends that lived in Boring, and my first job was in Gresham. Small world, no? Peace.

I just finished reading The Shack this morning. It was a very emotional book, and I found I was always anticipating how Papa was going to answer Mack’s questions. His answers were incredible and I sensed they were the heart of God. This book was amazing and I really believe that it has changed my perspective on how I view Christianity and my walk with God. I became a born again believer when I was 29, so I didn’t grow up in the church. This book was so good and I have told many different people the different parts that really touched my life. Especially where Mack met with Sophia where he was judging God. I am sure that part hits every reader with conviction, as it did me.
A friend of mine lent me her copy, but now I plan on buying my own copy to re-read, so I can highlight certain parts, and I want to send a copy to another friend for her birthday.
Thank you for writing such an incredible book.
Teri

I devoured the book as well, but as I reflect back, though I enjoyed it, I have some serious greviances with it. I wish people were as passionate about God’s infallible Word as they are about Mack’s story. God IS accessible to us, without messing with God’s own description of Himself in the Bible and the relationship of the three persons of the Trinity. Please check the Bible after you read this book.

I have been reading the comments with no intention of writing myself because, quite honestly I am so overwhelmed with thoughts that I wouldn’t know where to start. But I read Patti’s comments on the 2nd and thought “I could’ve written all those very words” and then looked and saw her name and laughed and had to respond. I’ve just finished reading the book a second time to ponder all those things I “missed” and realize I will probably need to read it a hundred more! So enjoy your next time around Patti! And to Missy’s comments on the 9th - I have asked God “Why am I not as passionate about Your Word when I read it as I am about this book?” But I have told Him I want to be and I believe He will answer. Perhaps “The Shack” is how He will bring that to be. His ways are not ours and He is so big He can reach people any way He has to. I just have to believe that because the essence of the trinity is portrayed so beautifully in this book that God is pleased and He will draw many to fall deeper in love with His book through it.

I’ve just finished reading your book Mr. Young and enjoyed it very much.I think it definitely points to our relationship with God The Father,God The Son,and of course God The Holy Spirit,as well as our relationship with others. I did find parts of the book that I could relate to,and others where I could not.I’m sure many who have read this book will come away with a new sense of relationship regarding there walk with The Lord and that’s a good thing,I also understand that a book like this can be used for good but can also be distorted by excepting it as the final word or as absolute.To fellow believers I do hope and pray that your fellowship is with God,Jesus,and The Holy Spirit,and that you like myself are able to glean any Truth that we can from this book, while remembering that all Truth begins and ends with the word of God.God Bless and keep you in perfect Peace… J.C.

Dear Mr. Young,
You can tell I am older in that I address you in the way I was trained over 70 years ago. So this is from an old person who has bought 14 copies of The Shack and has chained the one I am reading for the fifth time to my desk.

A student, retired college professor, in my SundaySchool class kept mentioning the book called The Shack. She kept this up until I just bought a copy to shut her up! Now I drive folks nuts by going on and on and on over this “fictional” book.

I have served in a home mission for over 35 years right here in Oklahoma. We care for kids who need a second or third chance by providing a home with a mom and dad and nine other siblings - most not related - including mom and dad’s birth children. Different but so exciting that I am blessed to just be here.

After reading The Shack in one sitting, widows can do this,I immediately started the second time through with colored markers. Underling each reading with a different color. I have never been so shaken by anyones concepts of the Father in all my Christian life. A believer since I was eleven and though I drifted a bit in my twenties, not ever stopping my faith just my church attendance, I have been labeled “a religious woman” a phrase I dispise! I am a daughter of The King of the Universe whom I now refer to as PaPa. This title is so much more inclusive to the kids I work with in this mission.
Of course, we have some very religious folks who are objecting to the book but most have not even read it so I just dismiss there comments.

Thank you Mr. Young, Praise You PaPa for the inspiration You gave Your son to share You with us in this time Shalom. mew

Today I finished your book and it has challenged/blessed me in many ways. I have had the great sadness for years. The shack for me is the prison in my mind; bitterness and anger and most of all, I’m very judgmental. I was trying to make sense of it all (things in my mind). The judge part helped me to see through God’s eyes. It was good for me to read that forgiving someone doesn’t take away the memories. God does forget as far as the east is from the west. I have been told that if you really have forgiven someone you would not think about it any longer. What a lie.
I want to have a deeper relationship with Him. What heaven must be like!!! I can’t wait!!!
Thanks for the book and the willingness to listen to what the Holy Spirit has lead you to write.
I can’t wait for the movie.

Hi Willie;

In such a modernistic world of rigid rules and bureaucracy, you can only imagine how my heart skipped with joy when one of my clients suggested I read your book “The Shack”. Yes, as a psychotherapist, I am “trained” to think “objectively”, so to speak, and to respond to humans in need; and, to position myself within the therapeutic dialogue, being so careful of my own religious/spiritual biases.

With such delight and heart full of joy and warmth, I can say that your book has opened up “caverns” for dialogue and exploration within myself. I read this book this weekend, within 24 hours, and I am so excited to talk about this book within “the therapeutic context” with the very client who suggested it.

Thank you for your gift of writing and for your gift of love. God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, truly work in wonderous ways. I am so thankful for having many opportunities in my profession to explore how unconditional love, forgiveness, and transformation exists within the human condition.

Sincerely;

Joe Anne

Eye Opening… This book reveals just how much of a “box” we try to fit God into. Our God is limitless. It also does a terrific job of showing how everything is connected…and God uses everything at once. I was blessed greatly…and changed in how I view my Papa….and my Jesus. Thank you Lord for guiding Pauls hand…and may you continue to awaken the spirit in all who read this book.

Just finished the book today. Wow. Thank you. Thank Papa.

This may seem like a silly question, but has anyone started calling the Holy Spirit “Sarayu” in your prayer conversations? I find myself wanting to, wanting to see him as personal and not as some object; “THE Holy Spirit” seems very impersonal.

Yet while it seems natural to use the term Papa, why does it seem Sarayu or any other name for the Spirit feel “wrong”?

A great book. As a Catholic, “The Shack” brings one to understand the Trinty and how it plays a role in our every day lives. The way you brought out the “Three” persons in your story makes the Trinty mystery clearer to all readers that may not understand the meaning, three persons in one God, PaPa, Jesus and Sarayu. Again, great story and a wonderful spirtual guide to all.

I just finished the book and am still wiping away my tears. It made me cry almost every time I picked it up. Sometimes without even reading it. I long to hold on to the presence of the Trinity - to be in relationship as they have modeled for each of us. This morning I read the part about “if anything matters - everything matters” and ran over to read it to my neighbor at her yard sale, then later - to my 3 daughters, and then to my wife. I finished the book this afternoon and I see that it is a key motif. It is my new tag line!

Thank you for this great contribution to the Kingdom.

I was recommended this book by my mother-in-law. I don’t often agree with what is popular, and I was hesitant to read this, but I felt I needed a spiritual jolt. I often find those when I read anything that is divisive (unfortunately). It leads me to read more in the Bible and find out for myself what is true. I must say, I was instantly connected and shed more tears that I have reading a book, and I have read many. It was a very disturbing and difficult book to read, and I haven’t had children or experienced anything so tragic. I have rarely had the joy or longing to be near God after reading a book, either! In my own simple existence, without tragedy as yet, I still have those longings and questions and desires. I loved God’s personification. It really stretched me and I think that’s a good thing! God can do anything whenever or however! Yay! The Holy Spirit was given something that my human mind can begin to comprehend. And yet…! Jesus, well, He IS!
I was very moved, and though there is a small amount that I may have not agreed with wholly, I will support more of what this IS than argue what it isn’t. Relationship with God (all parts) is so much more beautiful and meaningful than I previously believed. I have my own names for God that are my personal names, and I can’t wait to hear them call me by mine someday. This was a deeply moving journey that I will revisit. I am glad to see how many are being brought to a closer relationship to God. Thank you for helping me to see more!

After reading the book I know that I want to read it again. If I could I would buy a copy for all of my friends and family. When I finished the book I just said, “WOW!”
It has helped me to find peace from the loss of my son, Ryan. I can dance with him in my dreams but now is the time to dance and love the living. We have been talking alot about relationships at my wonderfull church in
Weitchpec and this book has brought a new dimension to my understanding. A while back I started thinking of God as my Daddy, mine died when I was a baby. After reading this book it is comforting to know that other’s see him the way I do. Thank You for writing this book.

We are in the process of having a Women’s Book study of “The Shack”. We had our first meeting last week and the teacher gave an overview of the writer’s past experience. Wow what a great “stage setting”… Can hardly wait to start the discussion of Chapter 5.I have been a Christian since I was 9 yrs. old and I am now 73 yrs. old. This book has freed me up from seeing God, Our Father, as a frowning old man waiting for us to make a mistake to nail us. I am reading the book and am having a time keeping it in our church library. (A friend and I took over the library recently).. everytime we order a few copies, people buy them. God is definitely using this book to drawn people to see Him in a different, loving light… a Father who loves us unconditionally! Thanks for opening that door a little wider for me.

Paul loved the book- heard your testimony at Northland church in Fla, I almost think it should be attached to your book. I loved your testimony and it answered alot of questions that I had about the book. People get so caught up in picking things apart, I know in my spirit God has used you in a mighty way for His glory and “The Shack” has brought me and family to a new place with God, out of the religion and into the realness of knowing that God really loves us and He’s not mad at us

I have just finished reading The Shack. I could not put it down and read it in less than 3 days. My husband then did the same and said that he too could not put it down.
We are both committed Christians.
I saw The Shack as a kind of Pilgrims Progress meets Narnia in the telling of the story. However what thrilled me was the Spirit truths that were embedded deep within the pages. Amen, amen, amen was my constant respsonse. So many truths of the mystery of the gospel given in such a real and realistic way that applied to life and living in the Spirit. A novel maybe but written with divine revelation. Someone who believes as we do.

I forgot to mention that I live in England and I am a member of a house church here.

Tears rolled as I felt God’s love and grace while reading The Shack. I hardly ever read Christian writers as they often speak in formulated cliches. You have presented God’s grace and love in a new and inspiring way–truly God’s gift of grace and love to you. I plan to read and re-read and recommend it to others.

Our Bloggy Book Club is reading The Shack for the month of October and I am afraid you will break all of our hearts…but I guess God does want our hearts broken because it is in that brokenness we reach for him!

THIS WAS BROUGHT UP IN OUR OR IN THE HOSPITAL BY ONE OF OUR DR.HE SAID THAT HE COULD NOT PUT THE BOOK DOWN. WELL THATS WHERE IT ALL STARTED. JUST ABOUT EVERYONE IN THE OR HAS READ THE BOOK. AS FOR ME, I HAVE BEEN SO TOUGH BY THE TRUTHS THAT HAVE BEEN WRITEN IN THE SHACK. I LOVE THE TIME I SPENT READING YOUR BOOK AND AM VERY THANKFUL TO FOR THE TIME YOU SPEND IN PRAYER TO WRITE THIS BOOK. mAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

I just finished the shack today. I am still reeling with emotions inside. I’ve never thought I could read a book that would make me look at God differently. I picked up the shack at Wal-mart about a week ago. I started to read it, then life and work and school took up my time.(I’m not a big reader). I felt compelled to get back to it several times. It was like, I was meeting with God everytime I picked it up. I got angry, I cried, I prayed, I analyzed. There is so much there, I know I will read it again and again. I want everyone I know to read it. I believe it is what we need. We need to look at God differently, like through the eyes of a child… Papa, thank you for inspiring this book, and Paul thank you for writing it.

I loved the book. But I have one question. Do you believe there is three people or do you belive that God Jesues and the Holy Spirit is one? Did you put them as three so Mark could understant it better? I know God is wonderfull!
Thanks Betty

Paul, I was stunned and shocked, not by what I read, but by the fact that over the past 2 years God has worked with me just as he did your Mackenzie Allen Phillips. I read this book in 1 sitting, and was AMAZED, because I have experienced some of this very stuff in my relationship with my ABBA. I lost my child, too, but not to death. I lost custody of him in a very nasty divorce. The circumstances surrounding that loss were completely out of my control…there was nothing I could have done to change it, and I have had a very difficult time reconciling my feelings about that with the knowledge that I have of God being completely and utterly GOOD. But the fact is, God is ALWAYS good. It is infinitely important the we know His character…if we know His character, we can trust Him implicitly, in the face of any and all circumstances.

So, this is where I am: I have discovered that I have denied many people in my life the freedom to love me. I don’t know how to love or be loved, except by God. I have never “been in love” in my life, except with my Lord. I want to have a great relationship, for once in my life, and I find myself in a holding pattern at the present moment. What can I do? Just wait…Let Abba love me, and love on Abba. That is all I know to do. Do you think God sequesters people and keeps them all to Himself? Like, He doesn’t want to share them with anyone else? I find that really hard to believe. If we are created for relationship with Him and with each other, then why are relationships so hard for me? I guess I need to ask Abba, huh? LOL! My relationship with Him is rock-solid. I just want to be able to say the same for my personal life…sorry for the rant. I loved the book. I will read it again, and this time won’t forget the box of tissues! KEEP WRITING! GOD HAS NEED OF YOU IN THIS DAY, PAUL! I will be thinking of you and yours!

The Shack.
What an inspiring book to read. I myself don’t read a lot but i was totally lost in the Shack. My husband wanted to know what was so intruiging about this book. What could i say (Read it)The emotions I was feeling was absolutely unreal. I thank God for this and i thank you. My love for my Lord and Savior has deepened to the extent where i’m just so giddy inside. Again thank you.

Thank you. What a challenging and healing book. I have not been so moved, or cried so much, since I read ‘Nine o’clock in the morning’ in 1972

Although a close relative had told me about this book, she also added that she really didn’t care for it; therefore, I decided that I would not put forth any effort to read it. I was surprised, though, when a few weeks later, the book came to me through a mail order company that I was closing out a membership with, so I thought that perhaps God was letting me know that it should be read! You can’t imagine how it helped me! In 1995, after forty-five years of marriage filled with a number of painful spousal experiences but a marriage that brought three simply wonderful children into my life, my spouse died from a massive heart attack. Four years later, quite unexpectedly, a high school classmate of his who was a widower - and a person with whom I had little contact through the years - happened to contact me, and we began to see each other. Surprisingly, we fell deeply in love and for six years we had the most wonderfully satisfying marriage that I could ever have imagined. Now this precious man is consumed by the ravages of Parkinson’s Disease and I am watching him “leave me” a little more each day, and it is breaking my heart! It has been so difficult to lose this person who is such a good Christion and who I feel was sent into my life by God so I could fully realize the joy of being loved and cherished, and THE SHACK honestly helped me come to grips with the emotions that are running rampant through my spirit at this time. Thank you so very much and God Bless!!

Father By: Bill DeRoche
(On His Death)

He never said hello
I never said goodbye

Does that leave us wanting
in each other`s eyes

One waited
one ignored

What then of time
in between
lost or stolen

Dreams,Dreams of,
left to Dream

The ache of love
left to ache

(Oh for the chance to reconcile)

He never said hello
I never said goodbye

After a struggle to get hold of a copy, I got it at the right time. See my story at my blog: http://ferdivertel.blogspot.com/2008/10/my-parents-attacked-and-robbed-in-their.html

Dear Paul,

My sister encouraged by brother to read The Shack, who encouraged me who encouraged all my friends, husband, children and entire Sunday School class. They want a study of it for November. Can you Help? Bible References..Study Questions? Papa loves you and me….thank you..Becky

I finished this amazing book this morning, but still feel I need time to digest and reflect on all of it. It is such an awesome and powerful tool to teach the church AND reach the lost with a new and more clear understanding of the trinity, of Christ’s willing sacrifice to reconcile us to “Papa” after Adam’s immersion in total independence from Him, and to feel the unconditional love that the Three have for each other and for each of us. As “Papa” told us in the book, He doesn’t want to be a part of our lives but to be our life. I am so grateful to you for writing this 21st century Pilgrim’s Progress, and to our Abba Father, who reached down in 1972 to save “a wretch like me” as I reached up for Him. He is the sweetest and steadfast One I know! Even through countless Bible studies over the years (which were all good), I have learned more about the loving relationship between Him, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit by reading your book. May God use this book all over the world to bring countless numbers of souls to the foot of the cross in repentance and into the presence of Papa’s love and purpose for them here on earth.
And may Papa bless you . . .

You know, Paul, I think that Papa would say that he is “especially fond” of you. What a great insight into the Father, His Son, and His Holy Spirit. As with many others, I too identify with Mack and his monsters. I read each chapter (except the last two) and then put the book down to let the conversations sink in. It gave me much to ponder and to talk about with Jesus (thank You, God, that dogs like to go for walks!). What speaks most to me about the value of this work is that it was sent to me by my Best Friend, and while I was reading it, it was recommended to me by another very close friend. This is a must “experience”; one cannot just read it. Thank you for sharing this incredible view of Love.

Well, I read the book yesterday and I’m deeply touched by it…
I hoped that the story was true, but it really doesn’t matter…
I had already bought 4 other copies today to give to beloved friends and to someone I know who is going thhrough the same Mack was.
Here in Brazil everyone is loving to read it and as for me as many people as possible are going to read it too.
It was very interesting because yesterday, when I was reading the book someone who I found very difficult to forgive came to talk to me, and I forgave this person…
Your book is awesome, it gave me a view of God I had never even think about, and answered this horrible question: Why does He let us go through all that pain?
Now I can understand, and for this I can’t do nothing but say: Thank you very much Willie…
E-mail me if you can, I would love to talk more about the book…

Thank you for this amazing work.It came at a pivotal time in my life.I have struggled with a false image of God all my life due to an abusive earthly father,and having been molested as a young boy.God is bringing all of the pieces for my healing into place,of which your book is one. Thanks for being a willing tool in the hands of our “Papa”,

Bob

I loved every word of this gripping story. Especially the ones, “You are not lost”.

I just finished reading the shack. what a great book it touched so many diferent parts of my life and It was recommended to me from my brother and I will now recommend it to everyone. I believe you should make a movie of this story for all of the people who do not or cannot read so that it will touch everyone everywhere. thank you, Joyce hambright

When I take a look over my shoulder at all the ways God has made Himself known to me, I am amazed and in awe of His wonderful grace and mercy to bring me closer to Him. I have struggled with that personal relationship with Him that I have heard about and witnessed in others.

“The Shack” has broken through my self imposed barriers to bring into focus a simple and open relationship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit as One that I can draw upon in each moment of my life.

Thank you for the gift of “The Shack” for me personally and for anyone who is open to it’s purpose of being written!

Suzanne

I just completed the book. It gave me such a clear picture of the trinity that I never before understood. God is a such a good God and you got to see that in this book. Thank you for not holding back on this story, but, taking pen to paper and sharing it. Wow! I can’t wait to share this with my friends and family.

Not sure where to begin…I guess the bottom line is this…even though I have been a pastor for a number of years, and even though I preach, teach and lead I have tried NOT to be religious and simply live out my faith in my lifestyle…but after reading the Shack I have realized how, for over 20 years, I have missed the incredible relationship that Jesus wants to have with me on a daily basis. I have never cried so hard from reading a book. I believe that God spoke to me through this book because He missed being my friend….that He missed me. I missed Him too but am thankful today that My Papa wraps His arms around me everyday and loves me in an incredible way! Thanks for being open to Papa’s leadings!

The best book ever, stunning!!! My daughter-in-law ask me to read the book and for the first time in my life I can talk to “Papa” from my heart without feeling guilty that I’m not on my knees. I understand now what it means to forgive! And that he has a spesial place in His heart for me!! I was struggling with my own “Shack” full of bitterness and more that I could handle. Thank you for sharing your talent with us to show how wonderful He is!!! May you be blessed
Truia

I personally related to this book in a couple of ways. First, I too struggled with knowing God as Father and certainly calling him “Abba” (Papa) was VERY difficult to me. My earthly father died from alcoholism and I never really got to know him deeply - certainly not spiritually. He didn’t seem to be interested in spiritual things.

Also, the way the trinity was described and how they interacted really gave me a good mental picture of how it may be. Even though I know it’s not perfectly accurate - it helped me to make sense of that part of my Christian faith. I knew I believed, I just needed a little extra help focusing

God Bless You!

Papa, Thank you for Paul. I now understand the Trinity.I finished the book this morning while setting in a deer blind in West Texas. Boy did I feel your presence at dawn when all your creatures woke up. I lost my Son 7 years ago. This story really hits home.

I read this book on my 15 hr drive to Dallas Transplant Institute, to be tested as a potential Kidney donor for my sister. She is an avid reader and I could not wait to tell her about the most fantastic book I have ever read. I said if I never read another book, I will be happy, as I will just read this one over and over again. I was so moved by Mack’s journey - I pray that I will one day find the relationship that he did. Thank you for this beautiful story. I am off to read it again.
debbie

My daughter sent me this book because she felt she had personally been drawn to it, and after reading it, she wanted to share it with someone, so she sent it to me. I haven’t read a novel in years, yet The Shack “hooked” me immediately. It was refreshing, exhilarating and exciting to me to have an almost tangible, almost personal way to understand The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit. This clarified so much for me and gave me a new perspective about God and how He, rather They, want humans to receive their grace and goodness. I think about God in a three dimensional way now, and it makes sense to me, and it helps me, not only to understand, but to feel more involved, more open to God and much more able to survive in this world. I am grateful for the new perspective and the fresh ideology. We can get SO easily caught up in the business of religion that we forget about the gift of spirituality.

Hi, Cathy,
I see that it’s been almost 3 months since you posted. I just heard of the book last week, bought it the next day, and am 3/4 way through it (and through lots of tissues, too). Don’t worry about how to “to it.” By ourselves, we can’t. Just hang out with Jesus, Papa and Sarayu (think about them often, especially when you are quiet) and they will do it for you.
I’m wondering what changes you have seen in yourself in the last 3 months.

I thought I would love to do Bible study also - did you do one? If so how did it go?

I don’t even know where to begin. I read THE SHACK in 4-5 sittings; completing it about 3 days ago. Every single day I find my thoughts wondering off into some part, some where, up in the shack. Be it laying on the dock looking up at the stars or getting the visual of the sparking orb (Mack’s father) when his eyes were allowed to see all of the blessings that surrounded him. This book has certainly given me much food for thought. It is my hope that I can continue to absorb and learn from it; how to love THE FATHER, even though I did not learn how to love or be loved by my living father.

Thank you for such a moving and monumental book!

This book was a witness of God’s amazing character and His amazing love and forgiveness for us. It reaches into the depths of our souls and longs to pull out all the strongholds that we hide away. I can’t wait to read it again, however, I am passing it to all my friends. I also plan on giving this book for christmas gifts. Thank you for writing it.

Have loved the shack,was recommended it to read whilst on holiday at the sunshine coast,Australia.Loved the easy way of understanding Gods surrounding love of me, everyday of my walk with him,of the bigger picture of nothing matters more in this life here, than to be in Gods grace and love all day and every day.Will be sharing/book reviewing, this to my group of ladies who I fellowship and study Gods word each week,as a good read for the coming summer holidays.Thank you look forward to what you have in store for the future,God bless You.

Wow! Is written many times, on the pages of my copy of the shack. I underlined and wrote myself notes as I read. I couldn’t help it. There are so many things I want to go back and reread. And so many things that I will study out for myself. I’ve been a Christian for as long as I can remember. I grew up with a Pastor father who understands the word tremendously. And even though I’ve always known about the trinity, and in knowing have never questioned…I now feel it has been explained in a way that is so simple and yet makes me think I finally “get it.”
When it’s explained as…not 3 God’s, and not one God with 3 attitudes, but like a man who is a husband, father, and a worker. ” I am one God and I am three persons, and each of the three is fully and entirely the one.” Okay, so that helped me understand it fully for the first time in my life. And yet, so simple. And right in front of me all the time.
My sister actually sent me a copy of the book. And then she waited patiently while I finished, so that we could talk about it. All we could both say is… It’s so simple.
No, I don’t know yet if I believe everything just as it’s been written. But I know I’m going to study it out for myself and figure out what God’s telling me throught it all. The spirit moved in me while reading, without question.
And I’ll do just as my father did over 20 years ago when we were in a very strict “religious” church. He studied. He studied all he had been taught. He questioned all the rules, and compared them with the bible. And when he found that most of them weren’t there or that they were twisted…he made a change.
I feel myself changing from reading this book. I’m changing into a deeper relationship with the father, the son, and the holy spirit. Thanks for listening to the call and writing this book.;0) I have been blessed.

A friend of mine just finished reading The Shack last Friday, November 7th, and did not want it to end, but knew that I would enjoy it. I throughly enjoyed reading “The Shack.” I read The Shack over the weekend, I started reading it on Saturday after visiting with my grandkids and could not put it down. I could not wait to get home from church on Sunday to finish reading the last four chapters that I had left. It touched me in ways unimaginable. My one comment is that I could not believe how Mack questioned God, I would be afraid to ask questions, but to know that it just reiterates that God’s love is unconditionally endless regardless. I have so many people that I want to share this book with. Thank you so much for this perspective. I will be purchasing The Shack books as gift for the upcoming Holiday Season. I just can not wait to share.

The Shack has deeply touched me in ways I cannot fully explain. I am a Filipino who is currently working in Tibet and feeling so isolated for not having a church community to pray with. But after reading The Shack I know now that my church is the relationship with Papa, Jesus and Sarayu that I keep in my heart. And this will keep me going.

Thank you so much for your book.

On December 6th, 1984 my fourteen year old daughter, Gloria Pointer, was brutally raped and murdered. To date her case remains unsolved. To attempt to tell of the journey from then to now would take a few years to write so I will begin at the ending, which relates to this website. Gloria’s homicide plunged me into a great awareness of the love and mercy of God. My communications with Him have increased so much so until many people do not seem to understand our relationship. For example when he recently told me to go to Walmart and purchase the book, The Shack. I just added it to my list of things to do. I was not aware of the book in detail but had seem some information on TBN. I was on my way out of town and thought that God was leading me to get the book as a good read on the flight. I ran out of time before I left and was unable to go to the store. However, when I arrived at my point of contact in Washington, across the street from the location was a Borders. The thought came again, to mind, go buy the book the Shack. I left the conference, later that day and went to purchase the book. As I mentioned I was unaware of the contents when I began to read the book and three seperate people commented to me when they saw me reading it in the lobby. By the time I got to the part of the abduction of Missy I felt angry with God. Why would he lead me to a book about the abduction of a child. It was as if a cruel joke was being played on me. I put the book down, and wiped away the tears. How long is this pain going to continue, I asked myself? By the time I landed in Philadelphia to switch flights, I encountered the reason that God needed me to have the book in my hand. A total stranger walked up to me and said, That book is going to speak to your life. Right in the airport I began to weep as I shared with this total stranger my DEEP SADNESS. Needless to say, my life was transformed on that day and when I finished the book, I found a renewed hope. I am very interested in comments and please feel free to visit my website at www.yvonnepointer.com

i read the shack this past summer. it was the next book i was going to share with my beloved husband as he loved for me to read aloud to him. summer turned to autumn and in the busyness of school starting and children’s needs i never got to read it to him. he was killed on sept. 26, 2008 while riding his motorcycle on a beautiful afternoon on the backroads near covington, la. a man high on alcohol and oxycodone veered into his lane and hit him, killing him instantly. my heart has been shattered over my loss and the grief i live in right now is beyond words. my hope is that as the shock and fog dissipate i will find comfort in the story i was looking forward to sharing with my sweetheart.

I just finished reading the Shack. Two wonderful days of exploration into my own beliefs, doubts, sins and memories of my own childhood. I have fought so hard with the norm of Christian beliefs. Strayed and have returned to his fold some 10 years ago. Yet I still strugle with the standard Christian Institutions and bible study influences in a world that has been so disconected to what I was feeling in my relationship with God. The trinity has always been a curious wonder to me. I came back to God through a very shanful and hurtful experience. I thank W.P. Young for writing this book. I have read many other books but none have touched me in such a profound way. Maybe I was ready to have that realtionship with God. I laughed at the comment about Jesus not being a Christian. Something I have said to all my bible study friends. They would look as me so profound as though I was speaking tongs and there was no one there to interpret it for me. Any way I now know that I am to buy everyone for Christmas.

I just finished this book and want to share with you one coincidental event with a coworker that highlights the range of people ‘The Shack’ can touch.

One day as I was at work (teacher), I noticed this book on the desk of a coworker. I became excited because, coincidentally, I was reading it at the same time. So, of course, we got into a nice discussion about it.

The point I want to share with you about this story is how ‘The Shack’ can reach people at different stages in their relationship with God. I have been in relationship with God for 10 years now. Much of what was written in the book I had touched on with people at Bible Study’s and other such gatherings. My coworker, however, had told me a year ago how she stopped believing a long time ago and doesn’t really think much about anything related to the Faith. It’s just not a part of her life anymore.

For me, the book was 1)a reminder how necessary and fulfilling it is to commit myself to the relationship with God, which sometimes I don’t. 2)Affirmation, or, reassurance, of my own beliefs on the same topics. But for my coworker, it was beginning for her. She is a literature teacher at our school. It was great to see the book touch her and keep her interest from a literary standpoint. It was even better to see how the book began to open up her mind to discussions and thoughts about God, which she had shutdown before.

No matter where a person is at in their Faith, this book can connect with everyone on some level. It is far-reaching and wonderfully written. I am so glad to have read it. I have taken so much from it. Congratulations on all of your hard work. Thank you for sharing it with us…(sorry this got long!)

This book confirms beliefs and feelings I have held deep within me for years. As one who journeys with people into their deepest pain and most vulnerable moments, I rejoice to have a tool that speaks to life’s biggest questions. However, my heart grieves to learn of the controversy surrounding the book. Well meaning Christians, who believe they have an exclusive corner on truth, blaspheme the Holy Spirit’s work in the Body of Christ, while the rest of the world scoffs at the Church for its lack of unity and intolerance. Our greatest need will always be forgiveness.

I have just finished ‘The Shack’ !
For reasons that are to long to explain, I have no time for organised religion.
This book however convinced me more than ever that my belief that God is in all of us and that all of us are in God is the truth, its just that we forget it for a time until something or someone reminds us.

I had a son die in 1999 at 18. I felt such a strong sense of the love and protection of my Father in heaven from the overwhelming grief that there was no question that He was there holding me and comforting me. He gave me a vision of His love and heaven so powerful that others saw as strength of faith. I know He is there and His promise to guard our hearts are true. This book mirrors what I already believed and what I know we have to look forward to. This life is very temporary. This side of heaven is where hurt and pain are. But for now and when this life is over…well when you read the book you will understand what we have now and what we have to look forward to.

Thank you. My relationship with the father has been challenged and broadened. Will definately share with others of all beliefs that I know.

to whomever- the shack has enabled me to come to grips after 35 years of soul searching over not being able to at the side of a very loving mentor as he passed away. I have always loved GOD and Jesus Christ through all the trials and tribulations faced in 66 years of living, and the book has given me a new way to think and look at all that surrounds all of us. thank you so much for this thought provoking written word. I truly hope it will enable me to be a better person.

I´m from Brazil and that book moved my life, my way to see God.
In the book lived the God of love that the Bible says, and broke the paradigm that there is a hierarchy in heaven.
The Cabin is impossible to read and keep away from God.
I wanted to finish reading soon, but at the same time I would not want to finish the book.
Simply wonderful.

My life has been full of love, pain, stress, joy, and so much more. Lately I have been dealing with many stressful issues and while visiting my mother in a home for seniors, one of the nursing staff started to tell me about The Shack. I could see she was just captured by whatever the author had written when suddenly she stopped telling me about the book and said, “You just have to read it!” I now understand the look on her face and the smile as she said that. And it was just enough to make me want to run out and find the book. I am reading it the second time through back to back… and I am so in love with the sentiment, the flow, the characters, the creative thinking process of the author… just everything about it stimulates my senses and makes me want to think and re-think my own belief system. I want to buy copies for everyone I know and tell them it is a must read. Thank you for the kind, loving, down-to-earth view of Papa and the joys that are shared with Jesus and Surayu. We should all be so lucky as to spend a weekend like this one and walk away changed forever and always. May God bless you in any and all writings you may chose to share with the world. Obviously, His hand was guiding yours as you wrote, The Shack!

What a fantastic healing of the soul!
“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”(3 John 1:2)
My soul has expanded to include the revelation you shared of His desire for relationship with us. And yet He has overflowed me with such joy I cannot contain it. I try to drink it in through my thirsty, parched lips but the precious water of life overflows my panting mouth though I dont want to waste a drop.
The gnawing fears and self loathing I’ve tried to gain mastery of has been burned away in the light of his precious desire to build a loving relationship with me not just from the top down but from my inside out.
My cup runneth over.
I want to thank you for sharing ‘The Shack’ story with me. You have the most beautiful colors of light which you enveloped me with and so blessed my soul that I will always and everyday be a new creature enjoying an intense one on one with the most Beloved.
Wow, just think of an eternity of this!

Some days after reading The Shack I was praying with a lady whom I had never met before - I knew nothing about her life - when God gave me a picture in my mind of a child behind a waterfall. Instantly I knew that she had lost a child some years ago. And we began to talk about that experience. The walls between her and God melted away as she came to see how a caring Heavenly Father knew all of the intimate details of her life and loved her deeply.

It was also at that moment that I knew that The Shack is a book that is deeply inspired by the Holy Spirit and that our Father in Heaven is going to use it mightily - as if the sales do not already show this

To read more about hearing God see www.godandemail.com

I appreciate the book a great deal, but what I just don’t understand is how anyone get a “Papa” out of the Biblical account of God. Nowhere in the Bible do I get an “up close and personal” God who is actually intimately interested in me. For example, yesterday I was listening to 1st Corinthians. As I listened to the apostle Pauls words on relationships, God, Christ, and all I got was angry because through 18 years of marriage, 5 churches, and abusive christian relationships I have found that none of this stuff actually works in real life relationships.

God exists. He sure does. But I do not believe He is anything evenly remotely like “Papa”. If there is any way I can experience Him like this book suggests I’d sure like to know how. Yes, I DID receive Jesus as my savior at 14, so don’t start there. If anything, email and let me know you’re praying for me.

With all my heart I reccomend this book. My husband Jesse and I were for 20 years missionaries to Kenya, E. Africa.
He taught for most of that time that, “Religion will kill you!” He also taught and lived that what God desires is a relationship with Him, for us to die and allow Him to live and move and have His being in us. It’s not about us it’s all about Him, as the saying goes.
I am going back to Kenya for a visit in Feb. and I will be sharing with our beloved “family” the truths that were made clear in The Shack. Thanks for the book!!

Regarding the posting by Robert Logan, I have to comment on. I was saved in 1982, and was “On fire” for the Lord in the beginning. Once I settled in to “churchianity”, I found a church home to raise my children in and became involved there for 22 years. Suddenly, I became religious which was not my intent. My relationship with Papa started to become lukewarm and the fire within me became a small pilot light. After 22 years in the same church we are now out of that arena. Glory to God!! I have come back to my first love because the Lord moved me and my husband to another part of Texas. We had to start over with a new church “family”, but God did something even greater. Through a series of events and putting powerful people in our lives who are filled with the Holy Spirit! My husband and I are no longer lukewarm. We are “On Fire” again!!! WE are back with the Lord with a fervor I have not experienced in 26 years since I first got saved. The love for the Lord and the indwelling fire that grows continually allows us to give it away so that others may experience the same fire. Our Papa is up close and personal to us. Accepting the Lord is awesome, as you did at 14, but you mentioned nothing about being Spirit-filled. When you allow the Holy Spirit to dwell in you as His “church” it is a revelation that will take you to a higher level in your walk with God. It’s a true touch of heaven. We will be praying for you, Robert.

I don’t know if this is the way i leave a comment, but I want to respond to the Pastor who has an issue with PAPA… I was raised in a strict fundamentalist home, and would not have ever been able to see the charachters as shown in the Shack. A few months before reading the Shack, I went to a seminar by Heartconnexion Ministries in Olathe, KS It deals a lot with shame, etc. From that base, I was able to begin to see God in a different light. The Shack simply put a story to my life. It made sense and that “relationship” you long for is real in my world. WOW, to be able to just sit and talk. To be building a depth I would have never imagined.
I would love to share my entire pathetic to incredible story with you if you wish. Even if not, I know where I am, and where I am going…..Cool….
Galen H.

Robert…my heart goes out to you. I don’t know if what I will share will answer your question, but I will try…(this’ll be long, but I don’t know your email, so I beg pardon from the others who will have to bear with this)

An upclose and personal God…from Genesis to Revelation, precious son of God. From the time he created man with his own hands instead of standing at a distance and just speaking him into existence…then killing another of his creation to adequately cover up the man and woman who chose to disobey. He confided in Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses. He promised to come and save man.

And he did. You want an upclose and personal God? Read the gospels again. Look at how he greets Jesus the first time: “This is my BELOVED SON, in whom I am greatly pleased.”
Look at how Jesus describes him, specially in the parable of the prodigal son: a father running to meet his wayward son, then going out and pleading with his jealous, self-righteous other son. I’ve never met a human parent who would be willing do that apart from God’s work in their lives.
When Jesus taught the disciples how to pray to God, he taught them to call him ABBA — Daddy, Papa, Dad. It’s sad that the english translation decided to add what Abba meant in english, because it took out the very thing Jesus wanted to teach his followers: intimacy with the Father. So that prayer actually says “Daddy in heaven,” or “My divine heavenly Daddy” (just a bit of sucking up on my part.^_^) not “Our Father who art in heaven…”
Even Paul says that the Holy Spirit gives witness to our spirits that God is our Daddy.

If you don’t think he can be upclose and personal, then maybe you haven’t asked him to be. Receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior is a good start, but it’s just a start. It’s just birth. But it’s an amazing birth, because you are now IN CHRIST, so that means everything Jesus was –and is — to the Father, SO ARE YOU NOW.

Look at Paul. He was an overzealous Pharisee who murdered and imprisoned early believers. Only the love of an upclose and personal God would make him call Jesus’ Father Abba — Papa, Daddy.

Look at David. Have you read Psalm 55? In verse 17, he writes: evening and morning and afternoon will I complain, and he will hear my voice.” I can’t stand to hear my daughters talking in a whiny voice! and yet David said that he could complain evening, morning, and afternoon, and he was confident God wouldn’t shut him out. How’s that for personal?

I will dare this: maybe the reason you haven’t experienced him as upclose and personal is because you’ve been looking for someone to show you HOW so you can follow that formula, instead of being yourself when you come to him. By being a personal God, He wants you to come to him as yourself, not as a copy of your pastor or teacher or even of David or Paul. I mean look at Job and Jonah! They were actually sassing God! Not respectful at all! And Jeremiah and Nehemiah were bawlers. Moses kept making excuses, Peter had foot-in-mouth disease. They were all unique from each other, and they came to God as themselves. And God accepted them as they were.

Are YOU personal with God, just like these biblical characters were? Because He’s already personal with you. He MADE you. He gave his Son for you. He put His Spirit in you. But relationship is a two-way street. If you want to fully experience an upclose and personal Dad, you have to be an upclose and personal son. And He’s done everything to make it possible.

You are the answer to your own question. And I know this: once you start moving upclose and personal to our divine heavenly Dad, you’ll find that He’s been waiting and waiting and waiting to be upclose and personal with you MORE than you wanted it!

DADDY LOVES YOU. NEVER DOUBT IT AGAIN.

HI I´M FROM BRAZIL AND ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS : THANK YOU SO MUCH …. YOU HAVEN´T IDEA HOW THIS BOOK CHANGE ME TO A BETTER PERSON !!!
I´VE ALWAYS BEEN ASKING MYSELF WHY SOME BAD THINGS HAPPEN, NOW I REALISED THAT WE´RE ALWAYS ASKING FOR AN ANSWER BUT THE QUESTION IS ALREADY ANSWERED !
I WOULD LIKE TO KEEP CONTACT
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS EXPERIENCE

Two years ago, I screamed at God, told Him I hated Him, that He didn’t really love all the little children. How could he, when he allowed a pedophile, a loved and trusted relative, to abuse our two beautiful young grandsons for years before he was found out and their nightmare ended? God is Love? HA! How could He allow this to happen?
I’ve been starting to come to terms with what happened to them, but forgive and forget?? NEVER.
Two hours ago, I finished reading The Shack. I am still in tears. Is it possible that I CAN forgive, and still not forget. (Or is it that I can remember and STILL forgive?) It continues to be a struggle, but I am hopeful that someday, by and through the love and grace of God (all Three of Him/Her) I will reach that point. Please pray for us and “our boys”.
And thank you, Mr. Young, for this new (to me) perspective of the Trinity and the wonderful, awesome love our God.
And to all those out there who still believe in Headship - God gave it to Mr. Young to explaine it so well - that God made Adam (and purposed Eve) in his image. If both man and woman are the image of God, how can one be over or more important than the other?
Grace, Mercy, and Peace . . .

Robert,
I am not “qualified” in the sense I have seminary experience, but I too want that relationship with Papa. After reading The Shack, I feel that relationship is so much easier for me to move to. God is there, always, waiting. I was 12 when I accepted Jesus into my heart. I can’t say that I accepted Him into my life until much later. I was taught to be afraid, and all my sins would be recorded over time and that I would be held accountable with or without Christ. It just didn’t make sense, but then I began to read what Jesus said and what Jesus did. It isn’t the words of man, but the words and actions of God Himself in human form that made the clarification for me. I remember reading how Jesus called God, Abba and then found the meaning, Papa, Daddy. How intimate that relationship and that was the relationship I wanted. As I continue on my journey, I relish that relationship I now have with my Daddy. Read the words of Jesus, read His words and discover His relationship, and you will see that this is the relationship He wants us to have with God.

God Bless You

Dear Mr. Young,
I love your book! I find it very refreshing to read something that ties our current everyday life to God and Jesus. I found myself highlighting sections because I was so impressed by the clear image portrayed about God - who he is; what life and Creation is all about, love, relationships, faith, fears, forgiveness. I could tell that the author had really thought deeply about all these things as I was reading, and I couldn’t wait to find out what your background was.

There is a story that I would like to share with you about my sister, as you will find at the website “oursisterjulie.com”. It took ten years to put her murderer behind bars, which happened only this year. When people ask me how I survived that long waiting for justice, I simply tell them that I never lost faith. Yes, I did suffer through years of anger and lost sight of God, just like Mack. Yet somehow, He brought me back around, or I opened my mind to coming back around, although I did not get to spend a few days with God, Jeseus and Sarayu, like he did (or maybe I did, and just don’t remember?!!!) I can say that I agree wholeheartedly with your definition of forgiveness as explained by God to Mack.

I have a great life. I have been married for 22 years. I have 3 children who I truly believe God brought to me from around the world. My wife and I have been through life’s ups and downs, the loss of our parents, the death of my sister, sometimes wondering how God could let such bad things happen. Other times it amazes me how my life has come together, and the only answer I have is that I am blessed by God. I have always been a believer, but your book actually made me realize how I do not always see God in people or things as I should.

I have honestly thought about writing a book (or having one written) about my faith surrounding the events of my sister’s death, and the many signs over the years that told me to keep believing. I just wonder who might want to read it, but your book rekindles my inspiration. I would be honored to have your opinion. In the meantime, I will be recommending your book to everyone! Thank you!

P.S. I picked up your book in the bookstore only because the front cover somehow grabbed my attention. I get chills up my spine wondering about that!

I tried to read The Shack several times. Each time, I cried so hard because of past pain; and then I simply forced myself to read it. Of course, I will read it again. God has used this book to heal me in many ways and to feel His presence in my life boldly. I have walked with God for over 40 years and this is the first time I have actually felt He was walking with me. Thank you Pastor Young. I don’t think you are aware of all the blessings that have been given by this book.

Growing up as a young Christian I loved the allegorical books - Hinds Feet, Narnia, Out of the Silent Planet, etc. I never confused them with ‘non-fiction’.

The Shack was recommeded to me by a grief counselor, about 6 months after our son died following a 7 year battle with leukemia (at 24). I’m glad no one gave it to me sooner - I first needed to spend that time yelling at heaven in the dark and cold until I was spent before I could really hear and identify with its beautiful message. Like others, seeing God as a Father came with unbearable baggage….I particularly loved the ‘transformation’ of Papa near the end. How apt!

Thank you for sharing this wonderful story - I don’t think I’ll ever be quite the same again…

Oh and one more thing.
My parents are divorced so for winter break I flew to my mother’s place. My mom is an avid reader so when I saw her I was sure she had read this book already and I asked her about it. She gasped ” You know what? I was in the boosktore yesterday and I saw it and I picked it up and then I walked around with it, but I thought ‘ it’s too expensive I can’t’ and put it back but then I came back to it and picked it up, and started reading, but then I put it back again and I did this for about an hour and left the bookstore. It was the ONLY book out of the entire bookstore that drew me to itself but I left it anyway, now you come, one day later and you have it for me?”. I couldn’t believe my ears. Both of my parents, who hate eachother by the way, were randomly drawn to this book, and now my dad, gave the book to me, and I gave it to my mom to read, so technically my dad gave the book to my mom to read. If you think about it that way haha. It was all too overwhelming. God works in such mysterious ways!!

Missy, as one who is “passionate about God’s infallible Word” I am awestruck at the constancy of scripture and vivid imagery that the author uses. In my recent study of Romans God showed me a panorama of His promise to Abraham carried through to its fulfillment in Jesus - a promise of healing, restoration, indwelling, relationship. This was never possible under the Old Testament Law, but fully possible in the “grace and truth” of the New Covenant. Mack’s story is a vivid “coming to life” of this promise made by Papa, before the creation of the world. Yes, I can’t wait to go back to the Bible and find for myself all the scriptures beautifully woven into this story, by a master story-teller!

Gerri, Annette, Ditas,

Robert Logan here. Thanks for your prayers. I am now reading Steve Brown’s “Approaching God”. I am trying to approach Him. It’s a bit better. I have a promise to keep to Him, hoping it will make some difference. Maybe that’s a hint of another problem I have. Please keep praying. My e-mail is logansrun2007@yahoo.com.

Thanks

Loving heavenly Father–thank you for the moving of your Holy Spirit through this book. These postings reveal that we all have our stories of hurt, loneliness,fear and brokenness.

I pray for each and every brother and sister here that you will reveal more of yourself to all of us on a daily basis. Draw us closer to you; plant in us a desire to know you intimately; build our faith; and walk with us today and through the veil to eternity.

Thank you for the gift of your son Jesus and for the Comforter who is with us until we can be with you completely. Draw us deeper into your word. Give us strength and wisdom to reach out to others who so desperately need you. AMEN.

Over the Christmas holidays, my wife and I flew out to Nebraska to visit her folks. On the trip we saw several people reading The Shack. Upon my return to work this morning, there were 32 emails with new posts from people who’ve recently read the book - for the most part favorable. One writer called the book a hoax, but can a book of fiction be a hoax?

I’ve read The Shack four times. My copy is marked up from bits of truth that stood out while reading the book. No other book, especially no work of non-fiction, has ever presented God in such a loving, personal light as The Shack. I believe that God’s Spirit is alive and working in the words in this book, just as surely as He’s working through scripture. How can we love God unless we understand His love for us?

Lives are changed for the better because God gave this story to William for us. I wish those who denounce it would lay down their legalism and accept the grace and mercy that God offers everyone. It’s not our faith that makes us righteous, but Christ Himself living in us. We have nothing to brag about, no matter how long we’ve called ourselves Christians or how much scripture we’ve studied. For those who can’t see the truths revealed by God in The Shack, I recommend another book: “12 Steps for the Recovering Pharisee” by John Fischer. For those who want more of God’s love, I recommend “He Loves Me!” by Wayne Jacobsen and “So You Don’t Want to Got to Church Anymore” by Jake Colsen.

This last weekend I was stranded because of an ice storm
that did not allow any traveling and I read THE SHACK in
2 days and was blown away with Papa, Jesus, and Sarayu.
Having read all the Left Behind books this one was the tops. Now I understand why there is so much independence
in humans and not love for one and another. Hatred, pain,
and bigotry will continue to thrive until we humans learn
to respect each other. Everyone who believes in God should
read this book. Thanks to all 3 who in that shack made
me realize that we all must change.

First of all there is nothing that I could say that would inspire one to think more deeply concerning the issues of life that we all face. Yes some do suffer more than others do and there is really no explination for it, but that such is life. As I pondered on the many issues that this one particular book seems to deal with( some more emotional that others) I can’t help but confess that it doesn’t change my view of God. Now I will NOT give my lifes testimony to a bunch of strangers and nor will I walk with God again, but it did give me a few warm fuzzies inside. It does touch the human spirit and it will more than likely help some folks out there. Guess with all of the negativity and the IRS taking all of your hard earned dollars we do need some good tingles inside. Good book Paul!!

Mr. Young ..

I began thsi book only because my principal handed it to me for Christmas & i had a week and a half off for break .. so i layed there with the book in my hand & i began to read … 4 days later i put teh book down & My Life, Soul, relationship with friends & family ..and of course my relationship With the Trinity (my Daddy) was restored!! ..

i cried not only because of the story line .. but because of the Love the was growing .. the relationship i could wait to have again with my Father .. i couldnt wait to kill my independence .. and not judge ..To stop seeing good & bad through MY EYES ..to stop & see things through the eyes of others ….ITS SOHARD but im trying … ive been leaving messages about the shack in my web pages ..and already have 3 people write me telling me ..i have them interested in the book .. and have went out and purchased it..

Mr. Young i beg you .. dont make this a Movie .=.. please dont! .. i tried to visualize certain scenes with Saraya and how animated & fake it would look .. and it would take away from THE POWERE THSI BOOK BRINGS ..

WHAT DO U WANT MORE .. FOR THIS BOOK TO BLESS GENERATIONS TO COME FOREVER … OR FOR PEOPLE TO BEG U TO MAKE THIS A MOVIE .. ONLY FOR IT TO EVENTUALLY TO FADE!! ..

i sooo love this book & will read it again so i could learn a few things Jesus didnt want to reveal to me the first time ..

thank you fr obeying mr. young!!

love,
a 2nd grade teacher

Bella Lambrakopoulos

i also have a Christion based Fitness DVD out .. heres my website

http://kararfitness.com/ourteam/

As lágrimas de Deus cairam sobre nós, como orvalho, ao lermos A Cabana. Para que viéssemos a acordar e ver mais um instrumento de Deus, que é esse livro que Papai lhe deu. Nós somos duas pessoas que se intensificaram muito com esse instrumento. Sou salva vidas e Maria José é uma poeta.Salva vidas em dois sentidos: resgate aquático e missionário. Poeta em mil sentidos… Quando você vier ao Brasil não esqueça de nos avisar, para que possamos juntos surfar.
Que Deus lhe abençoe mais e mais. Agradeço a Papai por sua vida. Beijos.

Um poema do Jaime pra você:
Mistério’

Dia e noite existem na rotação, nesta dimensão.

Agora é dia e é noite.

O agora está nas três dimensões

E tudo o que é corruptível

Está limitado na dimensão desta rotação.

Mas quando o que é corruptível

Vestir-se da incorruptibilidade,

Haverá liberdade.

Trasladados seremos:

Da primeira para a terceira dimensão.

A morte?! Onde está? Oh! Morte! O teu aguilhão?

Jesus ressuscitou. Minha salvação!

Sem idolatria! Que é um show é!

Hi willie… I need to thank you for this amazing expirience that you brougth to my life. This book can really change the world changing everyone of us. You were able to bring me hope and colour to life. Nice book and a fantastic reading!
Thank’s again!

Sam, Brazil

I just finished reading The Shack this evening. It has broken places in my soul that needed to be penetrated. I lost a most precious person in my life 2 years ago, and I needed to read this book to complete a healing. This person, indeed my sister (in love) and cousin in family ties, was like another mother to my children. She touched the lives of thousands of people with her love. She had a great affliction that we were sure God would heal her of, but that didn’t happen before she left this earth. Now I know why she chose to leave us and be with the lover of her soul, Jesus. I want to say thank you again. The character of Papa (the woman) reminded me so much of Marge. Even in the description of her stature and how she spoke, the warmth of her ethnicity, that was our Marge, my children’s Auntie (they called her Annie), the one who led us in worship at church, the encourager of the wounded. I’ve ordered several copies of your book for gifts and I’ve asked our Pastor to order 25 copies of your book, so that we could share with many a glimpse into the perfect love that casts out fear! Thank you a million times!
Maria

This book is the first book I have ever picked up to read “for pleasure” (meaning not assigned to read for some specific purpose), and mid-way found myself using a high-lighter. There are so many points of learning that I want to reinforce for future trips though the book, and for those I loan it to. I’m anxious for my family to read it. Many things I know have been beautifully expressed and painted out in a way that seems more real than before. The early death of my younger brother still causes anger, but you have explained that that is OK, and that Papa can still use the event for good. Thank you.

Jan.,19,2009
Christie S @ 3:21 PM
Dear Willie,I just completed your book in a little over 24 hrs.A co-worker suggested that I take her copy and read it.The almost hilarious part about her suggesting this book is the fact that we have been less than friendly to one another in the past year.I can honestly say that is probably the best gift she could have given me.I am absolutely taken back by this book,it has touched my soul,I think probably just at the right time.It almost seemed as if God was guiding you throughout.I have been what I consider to be a Christian all of my life and I just want to say to everyone that will listen,this book is not just for Christians,it is for Buddists,Hindus,you name it,but then again Christ has always been for everyone.Willie,thank you so very much and I pray The Missy Project gets off the ground.I will definetely do what I can.God bless you and your family.

É com muito prazer que deixo aqui meus sinceros agradecimentos a você, meu querido autor. Não o conhecia, nem sei muito ainda.
Meu esposo ouviu falar do livro através do Pastor Ricardo Gondim da Igreja Betesda aqui no Brasil. Elé é um Pastor muito conhecido e conceituado. Meu esposo comprou o livro, leu e indicou pra meu irmão, e foi incando, indicando… Não tenho ábito de ler, mas senti um impulso forte e comecei a ler, ainda não terminei, estou no capítulo 15, mas até agora, já me emocionei várias vezes, e a cada página meu coração fica acelerado, imaginando cada descrição que é feita do lugar, de Deus e a Trindade.
Das muitas conclusões que já fiz, antes mesmo de acabar, é que cada um de nós temos uma cabana velha, vazia e sombria, umas talvez tenha sangue, outras decepções, outras perdas, mas temos uma cabana vazia, fria. Eu particularmente, sou evangélica,assim como Mack, questiono as mesmas coisas, culpei durante muito tempo as mesmas pessoas, já tinha mudado de idéia da culpa de Papai, a cabana, só veio a frisar mais minha idéia.
Não sei o que me espera o final do livro, confesso que estou muito anciosa. Tenho muitos medos, mas se for pra tomar café, almoçar,jantar, olhar as estrelas, passear de barco e outras coisas mais com a Trindade, voltaria a Cabana com certeza.
Agora aqui, no Brasil, na Cidade de São Paulo, no bairro em que moro, entre os amigos e a minha família, o que mais falamos é da Cabana, virou febre, estão todos lendo e quem não leu, está com vontade.
Permita-me dizer, é um livro forte, quebra todas as idéias religiosas que escutamos nas igrejas, com certeza muita gente que eu conheço se lesse o livro, diria que é pura eresia, eles vivem na lei ainda, eu digo que é uma inspiração divina, que atingiu a mim, ao meu coração, adoraria que fosse totalmente real, mas com certeza ouve uma inspiração do céu.
Meu muito obrigada!

É com muito prazer que deixo aqui meus sinceros agradecimentos a você, meu querido autor. Não o conhecia, nem sei muito ainda.
Meu esposo ouviu falar do livro através do Pastor Ricardo Gondim da Igreja Betesda aqui no Brasil. Elé é um Pastor muito conhecido e conceituado. Meu esposo comprou o livro, leu e indicou pra meu irmão, e foi incando, indicando… Não tenho hábito de ler, mas senti um impulso forte e comecei a ler, ainda não terminei, estou no capítulo 15, mas até agora, já me emocionei várias vezes, e a cada página meu coração fica acelerado, imaginando cada descrição que é feita do lugar, de Deus e a Trindade.
Das muitas conclusões que já fiz, antes mesmo de acabar, é que cada um de nós temos uma cabana velha, vazia e sombria, umas talvez tenha sangue, outras decepções, outras perdas, mas temos uma cabana vazia, fria. Eu particularmente, sou evangélica,assim como Mack, questiono as mesmas coisas, culpei durante muito tempo as mesmas pessoas, já tinha mudado de idéia da culpa de Papai, a cabana, só veio a frisar mais minha idéia.
Não sei o que me espera o final do livro, confesso que estou muito anciosa. Tenho muitos medos, mas se for pra tomar café, almoçar,jantar, olhar as estrelas, passear de barco e outras coisas mais com a Trindade, voltaria a Cabana com certeza.
Agora aqui, no Brasil, na Cidade de São Paulo, no bairro em que moro, entre os amigos e a minha família, o que mais falamos é da Cabana, virou febre, estão todos lendo e quem não leu, está com vontade.
Permita-me dizer, é um livro forte, quebra todas as idéias religiosas que escutamos nas igrejas, com certeza muita gente que eu conheço se lesse o livro, diria que é pura heresia, eles vivem ainda na lei, eu digo que é uma inspiração divina, que atingiu a mim, ao meu coração, adoraria que fosse totalmente real, mas com certeza ouve uma inspiração do céu.
Meu muito obrigada!

Thank you and thank You Holy Ghost for writing this book. I could tell a difference in my thinking before I ever finish-
ed it. I’m on my 3rd reading, the second time underlineing and writing responses that touched my heart. I am on a quest to know how much God loves me,a revelation. It is the
most important thing in my life. Not too many years ago I didn’t believe that God even liked me. I have come up a step or two in my quest for this revelation while reading
this book. I have bought 7 copies to give away, so far, and
1 copy for myself to write my own responses in. Shalom!
writing responses that touched my heart. I am on a quest to
know how much God loves me, a revelation of His love for me.
It is the most important thing in my life. I came up a step
while reading this book, maybe more. I have told my church how this book has effected me and have bought 7 copies to give away and my own special copy to underline and write in.
It’s my plan to buy more to give away

A friend at work gave me this book last week and said you should read this, with a caution that “its a little slow to begin with and dont be put off by how they portray God”. I picked it up yesterday afternoon on a dreary, cold, gray Sunday @ 2:30 pm and finished it last night at midnight! Never saw a “slow” part in the whole book, never was offended, but more curious as I turned each page, and honestly had to stop and re-read on several occasions just to let such a complex thought sink in to my soul in the simple way the author portrays the Trinity. A believer and faithful church member my whole life, I have never felt like I understood my heavenly father more than after reading this book - THANK YOU

It’s all so simple…why don’t we get it? It is a definite read for mankind.

February 5, 2009
Virginia @ 3:28 p.m.
In this era of CHANGE which must start at the bottom and bubble to the surface, all of us who profess to be Christians must read this book. After reading this page-turner, I am for the first time beginning to understand my love and relationship to God, the Father; God, the Son; God, the Holy Ghost; AND Sophia, wisdom – an understanding so exquisitely defined by this human story. It explains so clearly, at our level of understanding, how we must hone our love and relationships with our creator and our fellow human beings. This can/must be accomplished outside of the religious constructs imposed on us by formal religious entities.

Paul, I sent your book to my 91 year old Mother-in-law. She was eager when reading the first part, but when Papa showed up as a black woman, she told me she thought, “Oh, this is going to just be silly.” But she says, she kept reading because she just couldn’t put the book down. When she finished it, she called me so excited. My mother-in-law has had a hard life: a 5 year old son killed in an auto wreck, as she and her husband were traveling to California to start a new life, then he was killed two weeks later, about 6 people in her family have died of cancer and she’s been the care giver. She raised her two kids, as a teacher and working part time at Sears, and on and on…She was one peron who taught me true grace in loving me when I married her son at 19! And I know she’s known God for a long time, (since college), but there was this one element missing… the joy, excitement of knowing Papa! Oh, if you could have heard her voice as she says, “wasn’t it wonderful. couldn’t you just feel God’s love! I think I really have a chance now!” No way I would have ever been able to give her that…just you and Papa’s love! Thanks!
Anna

This will be short, because I know you have so many of people’s comments to read!. I haven’t read a book in awhile and a friend gave me The Shack to read. I cried, I laughed, I cried, I read and read and did not want to put it down. Thank you all for writing and working on this book. It has touched my life in only ways God (all three ) will ever know. Thank you , thank you.

-Dallas
Devore, CA

Dear Brother “Willie”
I can’t thank you enough for taking the risks you did to allow this intensely personal communication about God to your children to be shared with the rest of us. I was feet off of the floor by the time I finished it. Then, on my way to your website I got caught up in some You Tube video critics and their disciples who mercilessly trashed your beautiful work and refused to even consider the possiblity that they might be wrong. I think your “Papa” spoke about religious persons like that. I finally broke free and decided to follow the Bible advice given by Paul the Apostle and ignore foolish arguments. I want to simply praise God because He spoke to me through your beautiful book. I understand the allegory. I understand the message and the big picture you wanted to convey and you did it well!

I am asking Abba how we might make use of this tool in helping members at our church, without getting caught up in all that other silliness that I found on the internet. If you have ideas I’m open
Rev. Daniel C. Elliott, Ed.D.
Pastor.

Thank You, that’s a great place to start, but I have so much more to say. I had heard about “The Shack” some time ago, but my skeptical self kept me from reading it. There is much that this world thinks is great that I tend to avoid, because the world can be very misleading. I am very pleased to find out that your book is just the opposite of that. God bless you for having an open heart and listening to and following the pull of His love upon your life.
I’ve heard that there are many who doubt and have disdain for your book and I’m not surprised. There are many in our society who have no idea what the “wisdom of the heart” means

How many Religious people missed the Messiah because Jesus did not do what they were expecting from God? He did not fit into there BOX! How many will continue to miss God, because He dose not fit into there BOX? My Grandmother ask me a question before dieing. WHAT IS GOD? The answer was…..
HE IS WHAT EVER YOU NEED HIM TO BE WHEN YOU NEED HIM.
This book put that in plain writing. But we need to remember GOD is the only one that knows what we are in NEED of.
Thank you. May God open our boxes.
Rev. Kitty Stevens

I received as a gift a copy of The Shack upon graduating from the two year Commissioned Lay Pastor school of the WNC Presbytery, PCUSA. It wasn’t until 10 months later that I had the opportunity to read it. WOW! What a thought provoker! I have been challenged to look at my own beliefs deeper. Knowing one’s God as Papa can give one that warm fuzzy feeling. Thank you.

My husband passed away at the end of December from a brief bout with cancer. A friend sent me your book. Once things settled down a bit I began to read it.

I have felt isolated and distanced from God for sometime now. I had no idea how to find my way back. I now realize it was my mistaken perceptions of who He really is.

Your book has brought love, warmth, understanding, tolerance and acceptance to my life and soul. You have brought such comfort to me after losing my soulmate of 39 years. I feel God’s love around me and I am learning to “grow a relationship” with Him. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

A wonderful way to show and remind us how we are all one with our God and Spirit and child.

I just finished reading The Shack and cried wonderful tears of joy while reading the end and after I finished reading it. It is such a fulfilling book and in my opinion, it is the most wonderful book ever written!!! I am so blessed to have been given such a miracle! My dear friend, Debbie, gave me this book and through this book, I have a more clear understanding of life, I will learn to forgive others more easily, and I will forgive myself more easily. It is so wonderful to be able to understand that God loves me and understands me even when I do not understand myself. I didn’t think I could get much closer to God, but I know I am now. I have always been so hard on myself and now I see that I was wrong. I will always try to do the right thing and treat others as I want to be treated but now I can love myself a little more. Thank you so much is all I can keep saying! Thank you to Willie, Mack and especially to Papa, Jesus and Sarayu. I love you all very much!! After posting this, I am going to send a copy to my dad and also buy several for my friends and family and I am going to look for some used copies (to save money!) and drop them by a shelter so others can feel God’s love and presence within themselves.

I am sorry, I forgot to say that I live in Norcross, GA. Thank you for reading our comments! It sure does feel good to know that you do read them.

The Shack has moved me greatly, like no other book (other than the Bible) has. I am going through it a second time and highlighting comments by Papa, Jesus, and Sarayu. Years ago, I had the most fantastic dream. I was suddenly among the stars with a male(?) presence to my left, although I could not see this spirit. I was so full of joy I could have burst. The stars were unbelievable!! The spirit pointed out to me a window to my right. I was told if I went through that window, I could not come back. I chose to come back. I was immediately back in my bed with my arms outstreched above. What a thrill it was. I can only say I must have had an out-of-body experience during a time when I, too, was in a valley of dispair. Papa is good, and know what each of us needs. Thank you, Willie, for the wonderful story. I look forward to anything else you might write.

I just finished The Shack today and I am having a hard time putting into words exactly what effect it had on me. All I know is that I feel closer to God than ever. I had a rather unpleasant experience a few weeks ago and wondered where God was through all of it. Now I know He was there all along. This book came along at just the right time for me.

The Shack is an amazing book. Our church wants to discuss it. Has anybody put together chapter-by-chapter discussion questions for it? Thanks.

I just finished the book today. WOW!!!! I have to say that this book is the best I’ve read! It touched me very deep and has changed me too! Thank you so much! It has answered so many questions that I had.

It took me twice to finish this book. Boy am I glad I did. This book was recommended to me by my therapist. Evidently it was recommended to lots of people because it was difficult to get a copy from the library. the book forced me to confront my feelings regarding a family member. I had been wrestling with and praying that God would guide me. Now I am praying that I can look at things with new eyes. Thank you for writing this book.

I read The Shack last summer for the first time and have been trying to get back and finish it the second time. As many have experienced, I too was deeply moved by the imagery and candor of a man’s experience of God in an up-close and personal way. How I’ve wished that He would actually do something like that with me - just invite me into His home, so to speak, for a weekend and talk to me directly.

Recently I found myself lost and alone (for about four years actually). My faith had been stretched to the breaking point. I had taken a job which left me feeling trapped, buried alive in a long black tunnel with no end in sight, no light to focus on. Many times I cried “Daddy (Papa) where are you?!” For so long it seemed the only answer was silence. Then gradually I could hear two things. “I’m right here, son.” and “I love you.” How hard it was to receive either of the those answers and believe them, much less understand their value.

Over time I finally got the message. This is what our faith is all about; knowing Him as our Father, our Papa, who truly loves us EACH as His own. Yes, He is there as our Daddy from Genesis to Revelation, but more than that He is here, now - always. I am never alone, never abandoned!

It seems that whenever God wants to get through to me He puts me ‘through the wringer’ to get my attention, then He sends something along to confirm the message. That is what ‘The Shack’ is to me; a confirmation that all He had been saying to me was really true. He loves me. He cares about what matters/happens to me; is here with me no matter what.

This is true for us all. We only need His grace to perceive it and to be willing to receive it.

Thankyou, Paul, for sharing your ‘weekend with Papa’ with the rest of us. For me now that weekend is forever present.

God Bless.

I find it hard to believe with all of the controversy surrounding this book that there is no negativity in this comment section.

What bothers me about the comments is that there are so many people highlighting sections of the book and studying the book. By the author’s own statements, this book is meant to teach a person about the God of the Bible. How can we read a man’s interpretation and skip God’s own words that reveal Himself?

I AM SO HEARTLY GREATFUL TO PAUL IN WRITING THIS BOOK. IT HAS CHANGED MY WHOLE OUTLOOK ON MY IMPERFECT ME AND MY SILLY STUPID WAYS AND THINKING. I WILL FOREVER TRY AND STRIVE TO LIVE AS MACK LEARNED. I WANT TO PLEASE MY LOVING GOD AND WITH THIS I PRAY MY CHILDREN AND HUSBAND CAN SEE IT AND WANT THE LOVE AND PEACE I NOW KNOW THAT GOD HAS FOR EVERYONE. I WISH THIS BOOK COULD HAVE BEEN WRITTEN 50 YEARS AGO, IT WOULD HAVE SAVED ME SOONER. GOD BLESS YOU PAUL FOR NOT ONLY LOVING GOD AS YOU DO BUT LOVING ALL OF US ENOUGH TO SHARE THIS BEAUTIFUL STORY THAT GLORIFIES OUR FATHER AND JESUS AND OUR HOLY SPIRIT. NOW EVERYONE CAN GET TO KNOW THE “HOLY TRINITY” THE WAY CHRIST WANTS US TO. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR WHOLE FAMILY AND MAY GOD’S HOLY FACE SHINE UPON YOU AND YOURS FOREVER! LOVE AND PEACE IN CHRIST’S NAME, NANCY

Paul,
This book touched me deeply. I have been a Christian for awhile now, but never have I experienced this kind of closeness with God. Thank you for your words that at times made me smile so big my face hurt, and at other times made me cry tears that only God can understand. I felt a great closeness to your words. I’m so glad I found this book.
Robyn
Kansas

I read The Shack,loaned it to a friend, and then read it again. It changed my life. I think about the “characters” every day and try to keep their personalities alive in me. Thank you for this book, I hope you are writing another one as we speak.

This is in response to Jason Jones on March 10th.
If it is negativity you are looking for there is a little occasionally on the forum at theshackbook.com. It is a very open conversation on all types of opinions on the book.
I think this being the authors site and it not being a forum really, people that have been touched by the book want to express it here.
I do share your concern that some people maybe interpreting this as gospel but I think the greater good here is that the book is causing people to look at their relationship with God in a new way and talking about it. I think the author himself would never want people to subsitute this book for the bible. I think the relationship with the Trinity portrayed in this book is wonderful and if it challenges you on some points of belief or faith I think its great. People need to grow up and take the good and leave the rest, although I know some are spiritually imature and I think those are the ones you are concerned about. For me even on the points I disagree with theologically, it caused me to analyse what I believe which makes me really understand why I believe it and not something I was taught and just accepted. It has also made me look at somethings differently. I have had more conversations about God because of the book in the past month than I have had in the past year. The author is the first to say, this is fiction, but the relational things are very real to him and “look at the great conversation were having”
God Bless you Jason, your heart is in the right place, just pray about it, see where God leads you

Great book. It really makes you look at thing in a different way.

Hallo Paul, thank you for taking the time to come to our city, even when it was so cold.I’m thankful that you were willing to be used by Papa to write the Shack. It is still an eye opener for me. I read it and read it again and still there is something new that I over looked. Like reading the Bible there is always something new. I’m grateful to you but more so to our God who is so much bigger than our little box we live in. May God be with you and richly bless you and your family.

(first off excuse my writing abilities but I want to express my opinion of this book) The shack has moved me in many ways. I’m not religious at all, in fact church turns me off. The church in my view is a bunch of Hippocrates. They preach the wrath of God and teach Christ words and his way and they act the opposite in so many ways, which turned me away from the Church and that has always upset me. I am very spiritual. I love God and try in my actions to be aware of God and love everyone and be conscious of the oneness of all things. Jesus has love for everyone and forgives everyone where the church is on your side if you are on their side, no in between. Jesus is even OK if you’re not in favor of him. In this book he said he was for Buddhist, Hindus, Jew, and Muslims and has no desire to turn them into Christians. I have always believed God, his son and the holy spirit loved everyone even the atheist. This book united me with the truth of God’s true love, and Jesus true love for me and everyone. I have always known this but the way it was expressed in these pages of the Shack, very refreshing.

Who would have believed that grocery shopping could impact ones life (other than at the check out register when the bill is tallied)? I’m always drawn to the book section of any store and was right where my husband knew he could find me when a wonderful woman said, “this book changed my life, it’s absolutely wonderful.” Well, I was hooked, little did I know that “The Shack” would take me to places I’ve longed to be (in a one-on-one (or three-on-three) journey with Papa, Christ, and Sarayu aka “Trinity”. I’ve been longing to have God speak to me, not just me speaking to Him. Your writing helped me realize He is speaking to me every day. Thank you for helping me with that two (three) way dialog.

Blessings, A Fellow Pacific NW Born Again Christian and lover of the written word!
Nancy Boat, Birch Bay, WA

Dear Paul,
Thank you so much for your transparency, courage, honesty and God-given humility. WOW! I couldn’t finish the book first time around, thought it was unscriptural. I heard you speak at the Oregon Christian Writer’s conference, bought the book and began to wrestle with what I’d disagreed with. I found out the problem–I’d become a Pharasee. A masked pleaser, looking for more items to add to my list of things to do or not do. Under the veneer, I felt I had to keep a solemn God pleased to keep tragedy from my family.
If people wonder about the flashfire that is spreading, it’s not a cult. I think it’s because God has used your book to bring us back to Jesus’ original message that ignited the world 2000 years ago. “God so loves the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life.” It’s a FREE gift–no agenda, no performance, just loving Jesus with all my heart, being filled with Him, and letting it overflow to my neighbors.
All of my bible studies now are looking to see what the word can tell me about this amazing God, not adding more to my performance. THANK YOU and God bless you and your family.

this was a good book and it made you think about your relationship with God

This book is appealing because of the way it enhances God’s forgiveness and goodness, and the story is engaging. I think those are the reasons why it became a best-seller. But when you look at it more carefully, you can see the author misleads its readers into some basic mistakes about Christianity, the divine nature of God, Trinity and the Church. Like in The Da Vinci Code, there are several aspects which are far from being truth and very doubtful interpretations of Christianity. It is good to speak of God, but too risky to speak for Him. The author’s vision, though having a Christian basis, is far from the Christian faith in several aspects. It’s a personal and much too new wave point of view. I still prefer looking for the help of the centenary knowledge of the Church and the Bible when I need to deal with my own doubts than being so enthusiastic about Mr. Young’ personal religion…

I found out about the book through someone at our bible study class and decided to give it a read. I’ve been living in a growing relationship with God for about 11 years now, prompted by a stress related breakdown and a sudden awakening to the existence of God in my life through memories of an answered prayer after childhood nightmares. I’m nearly 47 now and live with my family in Scotland. Your book has put my focus back on God’s love for us despite our failings and also his healing power. I had lost sight of that after a long period of troubled dreams and uncertainty about what to do in my life that would best serve God.
I have felt the holy spirits presence in my life as a result of answered prayers and you are right when you say in the end God cannot be fully described by any book. How do you describe that which is beyond understanding? But again thanks for showing that His relationship to us is close and loving by the grace given through Jesus Christ. One question though, how did you finally let go? It’s the bit I still struggle with at times.

The book was very goods and made you think about what you are here for. I like it that it showed haw real God is snd that he’s there for us. It shows that when something goes bad that we should always rely on God no matter what. I red the book in two days too and couldn’tput it down. We should learn a lot of lessons from this and put it in our daily lives. It tells us that we should be able to call God papa as he did. The book shows that something bad can turn into good with Gods help. This is one of the best books and will recommended it to my family and friends. The book has enlighten me and trying to get past the shack and trust god more.

How many books can say they’ve changed lives as much as The Shack has? Two years later the testimonies continue to flood in. I can only compare the impact of The Shack on my life to the impact Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ had on me. Both of these works wrung so much emotion from me that no movie or book since experiencing them have lived up to those experiences. The Shack is a God-thing. Not even scripture helped me understand God’s love for me; nor did I love God before I read The Shack. I feared Him, but I didn’t love Him. Imagine that - God, who is Love, not loved but feared. Jesus, my personal Savior and my Friend. Sarayu, God’s Spirit with His personality, speaking through the words of a novel. The Shack is a miracle.

If you don’t feel the same, read it again. You will.

I have just finished the book tonight. It was incredible! I absolutely loved this book. I cried, laughed, and cried some more. I feel closer to God and Jesus and now see them in a new light. Thank you for your inate ability to write such a powerful book in common terms to understand easily. I will be reading it again very soon! I cannot wait for others to read it too!

Drummer world…

… article marketing or putting your hundreds of high quality firms will send you hasselbeck of their ongoing revenue stream. this has long relegated blagojevich impeachment trial in outlying areas can now save it in whichever document format ie. 300 …

thanks to this brilliant book my life has been turned around . I had been suffering from the unfortunate loss of our baby girl who had been taken from us by cot death ,she died in her sleep and no one had any answers for us as to why it happened . There was no reason why she was taken from us so God got the blaim and in my eyes and in my heart I became Gods judge.
After reading this book i cryed knowing that i had it wrong and i was condeming my best friend .With his love i was set free of the pain and loss that i had against him (thanks)

Truly a heartwarming book. I have given 3 copies already to friends that I felt would benefit by the feeling that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit can actually relate with us if we could only trust enough to open our hearts. I loved the book because I want to believe that God is a truly loving God and He never would do anything to purposely hurt us. We just have to find him and trust that he lives in us. I also want to believe that this story is more truth than fiction because it really sounded like something that could actually happen.
Thank you for writing this book.

I cannot tell you, Paul, how much reading this book has done to me and for me. I finally believe someone experiences God as I do - not tied to one religion or another, but to faith, hope, and charity. A dear Episcopal priest who I once knew, Lee Teed, from San Diego, once said in a homily that Judgment is not going before God and getting beat up, but standing in the here an now with God and accepting who you have been and who you are at that moment and going on from there. Sophia’s revelations to Mack just clarified to me that while I am a church-going Episcopalian, I am tied to people through love and community, not stricture and dogma. The spiritual world of Papa, Jesus and Sarayu should be our oyster, not a place or time we can measure in human terms. I love this book and it has been such a blessing to me, as it says all the things in a coherent and cohesive way which I could never get out myself. Three groups I am in are reading it this spring. Praise to Papa!

I was without adequate words…….having recently, tragically and unexpectedly, losing my son, My life, My love, My world….the grief was consuming me. There are days I feel I can not breathe…don’t want to breathe.
This book brought me so much peace…a peace I thought I could not feel, had never felt before….
Going through a grief for which I truly felt there was no healing I again feel hope….
I met Wm Paul Young yesterday (March 30) in Gainseville, Florida. I drove 4 hours to meet him….I felt I needed to thank him…
I only spoke to him for a few minutes…When I finally had my moment I was too choked up to speak…he hugged me and I could feel the love of the Holy Spirit through him…I told him how his book helped me more than the many books I have read on dealing with the ultimate loss…the loss of a child….I will be forever grateful to the man who listened to our Heavenly Father / the Holy Spirit…the three part harmony… and who brought more people a new peace, joy , love, hope than I think he may realize. What a blessing it was to meet him and thank him….I thank God for using him to write the book and for him to have the courage to follow through. God Bless!

yes i understand exactly what your saying ,as i lost my son last april,tragically this book is a true God send .thank you Mr. Young

I, too, began “The Shack” with some concerns having heard of controversy over some elements even in my own church. But I came away from it convinced it is one of the most life-changing books I have ever read, and am recommending it to everyone of my friends, family and colleagues.

I believe most concerns come from knee-jerk reactions to some things before allowing the author to let the entire story play out. The insight into God’s character, however inadequate any human portrayal of Him must inherently be, are incredibly powerful and eye-opening. God is speaking to this generation, and still longs for a relationship with each and every one of us.

My husband and I just finished reading The Shack while on vacation. This was my second read through. It is truly a beautifully written book and helped us both as we entered into the wonderful word pictures depicting the triune nature of God. We have loaned the book to our pastor and his wife to experience. It reminded me of the wonder, awe and joy that I have not experienced with my Abba Father, Lord Jesus and Holy Spirit alive in me in quite some time. Many thanks for the re-focus on a true relationship with God! We laughed and cried and have been revived.

I just finished reading the book Mr. Young and I am so thrilled and very happy about this true to life story of Mackenzie Allen Philips!

I believe it is very important to correct our view of God coz it will affect the choices we make everyday especially to someone like me who hit the rock bottom of this life before Jesus Christ pulled me up when I asked Him and surrendered my whole life to Him.

I am struggling with homosexuality and the consequence that I got when I was living the gay lifestyle is becoming HIV positive. Knowing God in this way made me fell in love with God more and the more I want to live my life with Jesus. Living with this kind of struggle is a lifetime journey most of the time and it’s not that easy! I strongly believed now that God will heal my sexual brokenness in His perfect timing and I truly enjoy living my life one day at a time serving Him. I call Him “Paps” now short for Papa every time I talk to Him.

My life story is in this site http://drelroi.blogspot.com/

Thanks Mack and Willie….hope to meet you in person. God bless.

I am only 3/4 of the way through this wonderful book, but I can only say I can’t wait for the movie. Papa’s children will need to grasp this story in any way we can. Some will read, some will listen and hopefully some will see the movie.

The truth’s revealed within this story are incredible. For anyone who has ever been asked why God allows evil in the world (99% I guess), this book will give you a glimpse of the possible answer to that question, and will open up more conversations and relationships than you can handle

Grave and Peace!!
Love Wins!!

My Pastor’s wife loaned me The Shack on Sunday and I finished it tonight,for the first time. I feel God’s presence very clearly in the book.I have always been confused as to the Trinity and now feel a clearer sense of who they (Him) are. Thank you so much.I have my own issues of unforgiveness that the Lord has been helping me with and your book spoke volumes to me.

If anyone ever read “Pilgrim’s Progress” “you will recognize the same immagery in The Shack” It would be interesting to have scripture references with the immagery as in “PP.” There is no doubt that there is a special anointing on this book.

When I started reading it, I was afraid it would be sort of New Age like. The part that worries me is the part where Mac meats his father in “heaven” or whatever it is and forgives him. This gives the impression that his father was going to end up in the presence of God while not having believed in him in his life. This leads me to the impression the author gives that everyone will be saved no matter what choices they make in this life.

Apart from that, I lhave a lot to learn about relationships with God and people as well. I must read this book a few more times. I am thick in the head and have a very hard time believing that Papa loves me even though I bring nothing to His table in the way of giftings or abilities.

I study and pray often for the grace to go on most days, even though I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior many years ago. This journey is ALL about the relationships one has, in the Lord and on the plannet. I’m not doing very well in either.

Paul is only 22 days younger than I am and he has a grasp on who Jesus like I probably will never reach.

I read the Shack 3 times and will read it again. It has really blessed my soul. We try to put God in a box but there is nothing impossible with GOD, He is the only one that can write a book so simple and sweet for his people. Thank you man of GOD for allowing GOD to use you for such a time like now, the world needed this book to help us see that GOD can be anyone we need him to be.Thank you Paul Young for this parable.
may 11, 2009

Hoje me sinto especialmente feliz.. Esse livro trouxe a resposta para minhas dúvidas mais intima. Fui criado como a imagem de Deus meio assustadora, aquelas pessoas que são intocaveis. Mas aprendi que não á amor mas lindo e acessível..
Esse livro fez o meu amor, pelo meu papai resurgir..
Obrigada.

I’m excited to be attending a church’s Bible Study using The Shack. I’m a visitor there, but I’m looking forward to how the pastor, who is the teacher, will conduct the study.

It’s off to a good start, where he passed out 40 questions for us to answer about what we thought of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. So that we can compare what we think of the Trinity after reading the book

I’ve read the book and am on my second reading. It changed my life. Thank you William P. Young for being used by the Holy Spirit to write it. Any struggles you went through to write it and any persecution you get now, is well worth it. Well done good servant.

Blessings,
Princess Ayo

I am from Serbia.Few days ago start selling this book.I bought immediately.I just reading a book.I was shocked in first moment.Then I just told to God ooh I know I put God in some border in my mind.I am a New born Christian , and I thought that I have open mind for God.But this book is revelation for me.Now I can see God with different eyes.God put his finger in depth of my heart and I sow that I didn’t call him Papa,too.Now I know God wish me everyday and everywhere in deep relationship.He wish me in simple talk about today, or about nature, or about Him.He wish that I am his friend like He is already to me.
I thank God for this book.I pray that book will be read by Non Christians who will meet a God of love.

En una ocacion una persona me dijo que cuando se escribe una ficcion la persona no sabe que se convierte en un iluminado de Dios. Certamente creo que aqui aplica esta idea. Este es un libro presioso, tan bien hecho y que aclara tantas cosas relativas a Dios y la trinidad.
Ciertamente Dios es Querer y no Deber. Ciertamente Dios todo lo espera.
En una ocacion esa misma persona me dijo bajo lagrimas una esperiencia espiritual donde se le revelaron unas verdades de Dios. Mientras leia el libro vi la similitud en muchas de las cosas que me conto.
Realmente la esperiencia de leer este libro fue maravillosa, relajante. es como si me quitaran un peso de encima al saber que Dios es puro amor para todos. Lo unico que lamente es que se terminara. Pero claro que hay que regresar a la Realidad y vivir lo conocido en este libro. Se lo voy a recomendar a muchos . No leia algo asi desde Juan Salvador Gaviota. Yo supe de este libro por recomendacion de un sacerdote en una misa dominical. Se de personas que lo estan leyendo desde entonces. Yo no acostumbro comprar y leer los libros que se recomiendan en las misas pero algo me impulso a leer este. Ya lo comense a releer. Y espero con ancias la pelicula que es imposible que no se haga!!!!!!
Dios lo bendiga Sr. Young, a usted y sus colaboradores por este bello regalo de amor. Ciertamente son iluminados de Dios. Y que para gloria de Dios sea.

Thank you Paul for this awe-inspiring “Shack” attack! Papa found me when I was 12 years old. I’ll be 65 on July 28th of this year and I have been in relationship with Him all of my adult life. Reading your book was a constant, repetitive, “aha” experience for me. As you made so clear in this wonderful writing, God cannot be put in a box, defined in human terms, or in any way mass-marketed for human consumption.

And thank-you for reminding us that Jesus came to save us from ourselves and restore our relationship with Papa. Your book is God’s love letter to us in an age that is growing ever darker.

My prayer is that because of your book blind eyes will be opened, hardened hearts will turn to mush, and readers will know that Love is a verb.

dito

Sou Brasileira, acabei de ler o livro ” A Cabana ” hoje, é um livro extremamente fantástico. Que consegue tocar no coração de qualquer um sobre a imagem de Deus. Parabéns ao Sr. Young, é realmente uma obra perfeita. Terei imenso prazer em indica-lo para amigos, parentes e conhecidos, pois este é uma esperiencia de vida que fora quem a passou, somente quem lê pode senti-la tocar o coração.
Mas uma vez, dou meus parabéns ao Sr. Young, e que Deus sempre ilumine a você e sua família.

Belissímo Livro!!!

Yesterday I finished reading The Shack. It was recommended to me about 8 or 9 months ago in a parental grief counseling group. I bought the book immediately, but not being able to read a book in it’s entirety since losing my 12 year old son 5 1/2 years ago, I didn’t pick it up to read. For some reason (I think we all know it now) I threw it into a bag while packing for a long weekend trip to Virginia….ironically, this was the weekend before what would have been my son’s 18th birthday and I was having an emotionally tough time. I cried and there were times it was so painful to read, but I pushed through–I’m in awe and wonder and still not sure–but I believe it has been a catharsis for me — it has begun to heal me and has helped to give me some answers to ‘why?’—Thank you Paul.. thank you Papa…

I just finished reading The Shack tonight. I just wanted to say thank you! I have always taken issue with people who try to write books about God or discribe him or details of heaven. This was very different though… I got so much out of this book, especially the part about forgiveness. I wrote a review on my blog and I hope at least a few will take notice. Everyone needs just a little Missy sippy.

This book should be mandatory reading for anyone that calls themself Christian. It points out the fact that although God is G-O-D, He is loves to be aproachable regardless of our problem!!

I can just feel sorry for you. It’s obvious your not a very riligious person. Find your Papa and then read the book again.

Hi, Willie! I just finished reading The Shack! It was a really good experience. What I will always remember is love as relationship. Jesus is with me all the time! Some friends recommended the book to me, and now I’m recommending to other friends. I’m from Brasília - Brazil.
God bless you!
Thanks
Angela

The Shack was given to me by a friend, of almost thirty years, while I was visiting California this past spring. After reading this book I now know why she shared it with me. It was to take time and really search my heart and mind on how I view my beliefs that I have had for my entire life. The Shack has not only reaffirmed my faith in God and the Trinity but has brought the relationship to a more personal level.

Wow! I know God is so huge (lack of a better word) that it’ll take me an eternity to get to know Him. I’ve been a child of God for 19years, but has unfortunately picked up a lot of religious pretences about God. Churches often portray Him as a distant santa clause type figure, who likes to punish sin every now and then. Thanks to this book, my theologies have been shaken. I’ve started a journey of getting to know the real HIM… {South Africa}

Thank you, thank you, thank you for writing this book, for sharing the story you made for your children with all of us. This book was recommended to me also a few months ago but in my busy-ness I pushed it to the back of my mind. I happened to be at the library and stumbled across the only copy left, decided it was meant to be, and brought it home. I now know that Papa meant for me to read it at this time of my life, knowing that I would have learned so much more from it due to the situations I have recently been through. I have taken many things from this, especially forgiveness.

Most, if not all of the comments are very positive about The Shack.

My reaction to the book is quite favorable, but not as glowing as others. Not too long ago I was a regularly attending member of a church that went thru a major overhaul of it’s beliefs and doctrines. Over half the congregation left because of it. Nominally, I am still a member but I no longer attend the church.

The lesson I learned from that is- don’t let others tell you what to believe and to be very careful in verifying those beliefs.Understanding Christianity is not nearly as easy as some profess that it is.

The Shack covers a lot of ground in bringing out many of the concepts of the Bible ( mostly the New Testament). The things talked of directly (God talking to Mack) in the book are implied in the Bible. It is good that this is written as a novel so the reader is not expected to believe it as gospel truth.

I agree with much of what the author has written in The Shack, but not all: not to be dis-agreeable but because I am simply not sure. I have been reading the Bible for about 40 years now and realize it is not a recipe book with precise step-by-step instructions.

At the recommendation of our Pastor (Msgr. Paul Schetelick of St. Andrew RC Church in Bayonne, NJ) I read ‘The Shack’, and I read it in 2 sittings. I gave it a week’s break and read it more slowly and highlighted all of the parts of the book that so powerfully affected me. On June 24th Paul Young came to NJ and spoke to almost 400 faith seeking individuals. Just prior to the 24th of June I decided to read it for a 3rd time to refresh my memory of some of the details of the book and now find myself, after listening to Paul Young in person, re-reading chapters 9-18.

I met a woman on my commute into work today who received the book from her sister as a mother’s day present, she told me her sister told her that reading of ‘The Shack’ has changed her life to which I agreed.

My relationship with the Trinity has never been more clear. ‘We’ have a long road to travel and I can only hope and pray that I stop long enough in life’s most difficult moments to listen to Papa.

May God continue to bless Paul and all his family.

I have read The Shack twice through back to back and it touched my heart in ways I can’t put into words. I feel so blessed to have found this book since it wasn’t recommended to me, I just saw it in the store and bought it. Later I found that several people I know had heard of it but because they found controversy around it they didn’t bother to read it. What a sad loss.
In January of this year my 46 year old sister died of a very rare cancer. She left behind 16 and 18 year old sons and a loving husband who was diagnosed with colon cancer while she was going for her own chemo. Her husband has now had the rest of his colon removed and I hear he is doing ok. My heart aches daily though in missing my sister and in my concerns for my sweet brother-in-law and my nephews.
In my grieving I have started to read The Shack once again and I know I will find peace between the covers of this book as I have in the past. What a joy to have it to turn to. I agree with Fred (on June 16th), this should be mandatory reading for all Christians.
God bless you always, Paul Young, for listening to the Lord as He whispered to your heart regarding writing this book and then for doing such a wonderful job of bringing it all to light.

I feel so sorry for Marjorie (comment of June 21st). We always write or speak of God in human terms, because we haven’t got that final moment of real recognition until we really do meet God in the end of this life. Please realize that Paul is human, and is not telling us to believe exactly as he does, but let this book open yu to talking to God on a more familiar, everyday basis, just as he is talking to us - as our best, dearest friend. That is what Paul wants us to do - open up. This made me really be grateful that even one person in my life besides my husband understands my feelings about God, forgiveness, and judgment. I feel like a “Found” person, one with intellect who also has faith. Marjorie, I will pray for you to just open up to God in the way YOU feel comfortable, not to someone else’s expectations. God is waiting to reassure us all. Blessings and love flow over you always!

Paul,

I found your book very powerful, which is not to say that I understood, or truely see myself “grasping” it. But to say that at many times during the process of reading the book, I found myself freely weeping is a powerful statement.

As a man raised by parents that had issues of their own…a mother who was psycholgical unwell, and a father who was cowed by the religious fervor, and condemnation of his own father, I have always had a “lack of faith”.

I say that to say that what stood out to me so very strongly is that I feel so very isolated…alone. This book spoke to me so powerfully right where I am. The tears where of recognition of the pain.

The value that people place on “independence” also called “standing on your own two feet” really equates to ISOLATION and aloneness..not a good thing.

I wont ramble on any further..but bottom line thanks for writting this book. It was a real eye opening blessing.

James Garman

This book was picked up just because it peeked my curiosity when I read the back of it. Then I realized, I had picked it out because it was meant to be. This book made me realize that the trinity is just like I imagined it to be as in the book with Papa, Jesus and Sarayu. I will pass this book on hoping that many others will delight in it. Papa was portrayed as a female yet we always think of Papa as being male and we know that in scripture He is non-gender. This made me stop and think of it in a new light. It made me realize that whatever my circumstances I know that Papa, Jesus and Sarayu will always be there helping me make the right decision and if I fail they will always be there to make the wrong decisions turn out for good. Amazing to suddenly realize that for all the kids that are taken by a bad person that they are never alone….

Ola, My name is Flávia Pedrazzi, is Brazilian, lives in São Paulo and, I finished to read the book the Hut… I know Jesus and the divine Trindade, but to this it made me book to rethink some concepts already forgotten by the daily routine. I confess that what more impressed me and gave me more fear was the death of Missy, I have a son of 2 years and to place, me for as in the place of Mack, it gave a errifying pain to me, a pain had made that me until crying more than… what the wonderful story of meeting with Jesus, God and the Espirito Santo. My email is: fquoos@ wittel.com.br or flapedrazzi@ click21.com.br. Although not to be certain, I believe that this type of meeting with God can happen, part of me really wants to believe that this is possible. Congratulations for the book! It forgives the writing in English, I am not very good in the language!

I thoroughly enjoyed your book despite being warned against the dangerous false doctrine being “taught”. It was a beautiful allegory and I thank you for sharing it with the world.

Blessings,
Jackie

This book was suggested to me by a friend I admire and respect. She didn’t go into detail, but told me it was relevant for out times. I just finished reading it, and I was blown away. Though some of it was deep, and I am sure I will reread parts of it to understand it better, I feel so enlightened. I always tried putting into human terms the Trinity, the meaning of life, and the afterlife, and sometimes questioned all of it. After reading this book, I feel like it was put in laymans terms that I could understand, and it truly opened my mind that God knows that we aren’t perfect, that we have to have the bad to appreciate the good, and that he is with us every step of the way. I don’t know if I can ever think of God without calling him “Papa” now! It made me understand the Holy Trinity more in my adult life. I think this is a handbook that works in every religion, and should be used as such. It will help me develope a deeper relationship with God, as I hope it will with others, and I am going to recommend it to everyone I know. Thank you Paul for writing such a beautiful story, and opening up my mind to understand God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in a whole new light. And thank you Becky for recommending it.
Karen

‘The Shack’ was loaned to me by a friend at church. What a wonderful book! The Trinity is now so much clearer to me. We now have a copy of our own which I have read twice, and have given a copy to our youngest and will be giving copies to friends this Christmas.

Thank you Pat for the loan, and thank you Paul for writing such a wonderful faith enhancing story.

Thank You Paul for writing such a powerful book, and Thank you Papa for inspiring Paul to write it. Thank you to my aunt for telling me about the book!! I am only two thirds through the book, but already it has deepened my faith much farther than I thought possible. I have become a very spiritual person in the last three years, but the this book has taken me even farther than before. I know now that there are no boundaries to his love, for it is EVERYWHERE! And for everyone who thinks that things happen in life coincidentally…..NO WAY! There are NO coincidences in life. Everything happens in this life because Papa knows you are ready! And I hope that people are ready for this book, because it will touch you to your very core!! I will be passing along the book, to whoever will listen, and be willing to go on a fantastic & amazing journey with Papa!!!! Thank You Papa!!!!

WOW. My wife read the book first. As she was telling me about it I didn’t let her get far. I told her it was stupid. Childish and I didn’t want to hear about it. I generally don’t like Christian fiction; it is usually laughably out-of-touch with real people in a real world; however, my son also read the book and loved it. He was telling me about it like it actually represented the character of God. I said that it’s just a fiction book and shouldn’t be given any more attention than any other fiction book. The Bible is Gods’ word and authority. PERIOD! He said I should at least read it. I did. Or better yet, it read me!
This is the most amazing book I’ve ever read! Not counting the Bible of course. Here is what I now think of it: I believe God gets our attention in many ways. Most people, I used to be one, unintentionally view God as a strict, bad-tempered judge. I never viewed him as an African American woman who doesn’t always use proper English and bebops to funk music!! But I also know that He/She/It can manifest himself any way he chooses…male, female, a puppy licking the tears of a child, a cat letting you know that even though the boss chewed you up and spit you out you’re still very much loved with a purr that calms the storm in you. The main thing that I had-have a problem with is how can He love me when He knows me so well. I’m still struggling with His fondness for me. All through the book I was saying, oh God if this were only true. My spirit knows it to be true. I believe that God inspired the writing of this book and while the Bible is the ultimate authority, this book is one more looking glass the Father is holding to show this desperate and guilt ridden world His amazing love and His desire for a relationship with each of us. No matter what we’ve done or how “bad” we are.
Thank you so much for writing this book and cracking this mans’ hard and cynical heart! May you grow in grace.

One of my favorite sentences, “Faith does not grow in a house of certainty.”

I’m from Brazil…
My syster read this book before me and she told me that she didn’t want to finish to reading the book. I asked why and she told me that she wanted that story to go the one of her. I didn’t understand until start to read it…and I understood what she felt! I wish, in the deep of my soul and spirit have a relationship with my God like that!!!
Thanks for this book..
sorry, my english is realy bad, I’m still learning.

I’m not sure how this bit of the website works. Are you talking to me? If so, God bless you. If not, God bless you anyway.

I’ve heard said that the most religious person of all is the one who follows no religion at all. God is all. Jesus is the Way. The Holy Spirit is our guide and councillor. The Shack echoes these truths.

I was totally out of control when Mack and Jesus were at rthe end of the pier and Mack wasn’t sure if he should step in the lake. Of course he knew he’d sink but with Jesus having told him “let’s go” he was in total disbelief. He thought Jesus was putting him on. The fact was that the situatuin tested him and he indeed believe. It showed me just how to believe. I am a believer.

I haven’t finished reading the book yet but am deeply entralled by it, regardless as to whether it is a work of fiction or not. I am born again but have been saddened by life and have stopped going to Church. This book is making me want to attend again. So please, to all those out there who only wish to critise this book, take it for what it is…an open door to want to know more and believe and belong to the trinity of Christ, God and and the Holy Spirit

The timing in the reading this book couldn’t have been better and I am convinced it was GOD’S timing!!! It took me on a spiritual journey of awakening, reconciliation, forgiveness, healing and peace as though a veil had lifted and Jesus was personally enveloping me in his arms.
I had just started working on some issues that had been festering for 38 years when I felt compelled to read this book. When I got to the chapter on reconciliation, the story line faded and the vision it replaced was MY Father who had been gone 27 years, telling me that he regretted what had happened between us as much as I did. Joy swept through the very depths of my soul and I suddenly felt at peace.
WOW! The glorious release of regrets I no longer had to carry is beyond description. I could now move past the pain!!!! Thank you God, Papa, Jesus and Sarayu not only for that HUGE epiphany but for using Paul to write this book.

Just finished reading the book. I was skeptical at first but the story drew me in and got me thinking of lots of stuff. Need to think this through or just let it soak in!

Thank you so much for this book!!! What a wonderful representation of many scriptural truths. I applaud your attention to scripture. Thank you again.

I feel so blessed to of read The Shack. I came upon the book without even knowing that I was looking for a book to read (God workd in mysterious ways). After reading and thinking about the books contents I decided to tell my family about. To my surprise several of my family members had or were reading it. We all feel such a srong need to share our thoughts together and want to share with people that we each feel it will capture. Thank you God for your wonderful way you use your children in this world to save us all!!!

Michelle

COMO AMEI LER ESTE LIVRO ESTOU DESLUMBRADA
EU JÁ AMAVA A DEUS MAIS DEPOIS DE “A CABANA”
AMO AINDA MAIS. OBRIGADA. NALCIANA.

I just finished The Shack for the first time and plan to start it again right away with my highlighter. I’ve always thought the Trinity would present themselves similar to the way they were presented in The Shack. You are on target!
In my own personal journey I’ve “judged” God and spent too much time angry for what He did. I’ve prayed to Jesus and the Holy Spirit for grace, strength etc. and I’ve known my prayers were heard and answered.
I appreciate so much your story and explanations- they validate what I know in my heart to be the truth, yet reading The Shack, I feel for the first time in years that I know the next steps I need to take to transition and fulfill my experience with Papa. Thank you seems so inadequate, but sincerely, Thank You!

I am hearing that a lot of people like this book and others did not….I do not read a whole book that often unless it has my attention, and this one kept mine….I got excited and wanted more everytime I turned the page….When you read this book just remember one thing GOD came come in any shape, size, color, smell, any way he wants. Remember that God gave us JESUS CHRIST to die for our sins and his HOLY SPIRIT dwells with in us, and at the same time, GOD can be anywhere he wants to be….The TRINITY!!!!

For you who did not like this book, you are missing the whole point….seeds…..Let us plant some, no matter how we do, then you can come water them and watch them grow and harvest!!!!!! Stop being so blind…Don’t loose sight of what GOD is trying to do here…..Agape

Sorry “can come”

Dear Paul,
I picked up your book at the San Francisco airport on my return trip to Kentucky. My daily life doesn’t include “book shopping” as I try to limit myself to the library, full of good books I’ve never read. However, I am still drawn to the ‘easy to pick up” paper-back I can capture at an airport.

To my amazement, I am filled with awe at the wonderful story you tell. It captures, to my own understanding, the true nature of God and his Love for us. I am torn between keeping the book or sending it on with a friend. Think I’ll send it on and pick up another copy when I go to Joseph Beth Book Store.

Thank you for the inspiration and skill that led to this wonderful story. It will remain with me for a long time.

I give thanks….

Ann

Wow. I am only half way through the book. I had resisted reading it because it was so popular. Thought it was another new age Oprah many paths to God apostasy. Wow, it is so not that. At the same time I am reading this I have a new bible. I was always a NKJV person but one day I picked up a New Living Translation at the local big box discount. God is really touching me through them both along with “Breaking Free” by Beth Moore . I am being set free from the “religious” chains that bind me.

We must all be careful now to not let the “big box discount” religious leaders dissuade us from “the liberty that is Christ Jesus”. Keep that vigil for wolves in sheep’s clothing. Do not be bewitched from the simplicity that is Christ Jesus.

I would also like to see some updates to this blog not just the schedule. It has been a while Willie.