BOOK CORNER

Last year, I saw a book on the shelf at the book store that caught my eye but I was there for other shopping and left it on the shelf. When I was Christmas shopping online for something for my friend in prison to read and I saw the cover of The Shack pictured on the web page and recognized it as the one I left behind.

As soon as Saul read it, he called wanting to talk about it. I didn't even have a copy yet but by the tone in his voice, I knew I better read it right away. Now that I've read it all that I can say is that I regret leaving it behind the first time. Wow! What a book!

Let's see if I can do this without revealing too much of the story. Mackenzie Philips decides to take his children on a camping trip while his wife visited her sister. Just as they were about to leave the campsite, the two older kids decided to take a last canoe ride before heading home. As their canoe overturned, and Mack went to help them, his back was turned and the unspeakable happened. Mack's youngest daughter, Missy, was abducted by a known child predator.

After a massive search, evidence that Missy may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. Against his better judgment he arrives at the shack on a wintry afternoon and walks back into his darkest nightmare. What he finds there will change Mack's world forever.

As the whirlwind passeth, so [is] the wicked no [more]: but the righteous [is] an everlasting foundation.
Proverbs 10:25

Many of us, in all walks of life have had some sort of "Great Sadness" and have searched for answers only to feel empty by the answers offered. The Shack may not have all the answers but it comes close. After all, a book of fiction will not comfort like the Bible but they rarely try. This one tries and does a very good job.

How many a man has dated a new era in his life from the reading of a book.
Henry David Thoreau,
US Transcendentalist author (1817 - 1862)

Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.
J. R. R. Tolkien
British scholar & fantasy novelist (1892 - 1973)

CRHP

No, that's not a misspelled word, though the name, Chirp has evolved from the acronym. Christ Renews His Parish, (CRHP) or Chirp is an annual retreat originating in the Catholic Church but used by many churches. It is a weekend retreat to for all to develop a relationship with Jesus.

During the weekend, there are large and small group discussions, plenty of time for prayer and reflection as well as plenty of food and fellowship and the most intense ever Church service. After the weekend, the attendees have the opportunity to join weekly meetings for the following year. There, people living separate lives find they have brothers and sisters in Christ that were always there but were wandering in all directions.

There are separate Chirp's for men and women and the men's Chirp at Good Shepherd Church in Naperville is coming up in May. The woman's Chirp happens in the fall simply for logistics.

I attended Chirp last May and had no idea what to expect. Previous attendees don't tell much about the experience for two reasons. First, nobody likes to spoil a good surprise. Second, it just can't be explained accurately.

I will say that only the coldest heart could go through it untouched. Let me tell you, gold can't buy back the warmth of a heart grown cold but that weekend can. If you are simply searching for a way to find brotherhood or experience the real reason you came to church in the first place, Chirp will astound you.

Not everyone follows up with the weekly meetings and that's understandable. Men came from great distances and from other churches last May and there is no way they could make any meetings. Some have been startled or humbled by the experience and felt the weekend was enough or more than they could handle. There is no pressure to attend the weekly meetings but the fellowship and spiritual growth gained there is worth it, more than I can express.

Good Shepherd will have a sign-up sheet in the narthex or anyone can call the church (Tel: (630) 961-9220) or type in, welcomegrowserve.org on the computer to find out more.

So often, we talk about "faith journeys" and some think they are well on their way to a great relationship with Christ. Just when you think you are there, Chirp comes along knocking on your door. Some answer and are forever changed while some think it's just another sales pitch. Will you answer the knock?

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
revelation 3:20