Thoughts From The Road

The Shack and Bill Johnson

Firstly, let me say the two items in the title are not connected, or at least not in my mind.

In the last few days I have come to this shocking conclusion....It is not a sin not to enjoy The Shack! As readers of my blog will know I was encouraged by many people to read, what had been for them, a life changing book. I dutifully did and it did nothing for me. This simple statement has produced a level of out rage greater than the shocking revelation that some Christians, myself included, read and enjoyed the Harry Potter books!  I was surprised that as I admitted to the fact the Shack wasn't the best book I had read, friends immediately challenged me "Why not?" So I would say something like

- I found it a bit boring

- I did not think it was that well written

- The characters were not very gripping

- I found the depiction of the trinity weird

- I found the depiction of the trinity disturbing

- It sent me to sleep

- The theology was suspect

etc etc

In most cases the thing that the advocates picked up on was the criticism of the theology. Always my last point. The argument being that it is a novel, it does not claim the be theology. I totally agree with this. I have many novels that have dodgy theology. Interestingly none have been recommended by my Christian friends, Christian authors, churches or recording artists. The conversation then continues down one of two roots. I move them back to my first point. Where they asked me why. This is a great question and one that challenged me as I answered it. OR they would say. What is wrong with the theology? Generally, I picked one of two issues. Firstly, I would point out that one of the 10 commandments is that we should not make a graven image of God. We would be offended if a non-Christian potrayed God in wood or stone but somehow it is ok for a Christian novel to portray Him as a black woman in the manner of Whopee Goldberg! Some even then went on to say. "How do you know God is not like that?'!!!! Tbe second issue I might mention is when Jesus says to Mack that he never came so people would imitate him. Most Christian know that Jesus is our model and whilst that is not the only reason he came, it was a reason.

Generally what follows is a bizarre display of anger, pity or disappointment that I do not agree with them. Interestingly, I am not concerned that they enjoyed it. I am delighted that some found it a healing story, gave them hope and even understanding. So why does it illicit such a reaction. ONe person offered to pray for me that I would be given revelation! I countered that they should not pray that I have incresed revelation of The Shack maybe they should pray that I have revelation of revelation!

One reader asked for more insight into what had taken place at the recent conference that I attended with Bill Johnson. It is difficult to list is all here. The church perhaps held only 500 people. On the last night there were claims of at least 90 incidents of healing. So there are many testimonies that will be recorded from the three days Bill was in town! I am impressed with his humility and desire to give away what God has taught him. This is in contrast with many on the international circuit so I found his style refreshing. I am expectant that as a result there will be an increased hunger and expectation for the miraculous. 

There was a few great stories. One was of a woman who was bent double, who could hardly walk. As God touched her, within minutes she was running up and down the steps. My friend was healed of eczema but these were the tip of the iceberg

The Shack - It is Finished

I finished reading the book by William P Young yesterday. This publishing phenomenon has swept the USA and has now become very popular here. The story is that a little girl is murdered in a shack by a serial killer. Sometime later her father receives a letter from God inviting him to meet the father (papa) son (Jesus) and Holy Ghost (Sarayu) at The Shack. 

It has blessed millions, including my wife Lesley. One of my blog readers said it was the most healing book she had ever read. My verdict? I did not enjoy it at all. The biggest issue was I had no interest in any of the characters. Even once I had accepted the premise of God revealing himself as some Whoopi Goldberg type character, the biggest   issue, I was totally disinterested, which is why it took me so long to finish it!

The book is so immotive that I know this revelation will be a shock to some. It didn't hate it. Sure there was some dodgy theology, its just that it, for me at least failed at the most basic level for a novel, it bored me!

Let me know what you think and why I am wrong!

Bill Johnson in Cardiff +

Most of this week has been spent at a conference at my home church Cardiff City Temple www.citytemple.info , The teaching has been remarkable and the display of actual healing miracles has been astounding. I have loved being in the presence of God, soaking in His Holy Spirit. Bill Johnson has a remarkable gift of making the supernatural, natural. Each day Lesley and I have driven into town with anticipation and expectation. We were not disappointed. Our prayer is the enemy will not be able to rob anything that was imparted this week. 

Today, is a busy one. I start by leading devotions for Care for the Family, the organisation headed up by my friend Rob Parsons. They gather the entire staff  for this twice weekly meeting. I am anxious to ensure that the word I bring is exactly what God wants me to share with them at this point. I then travel into Highfields church for a meeting that is planning the visit of the OM ship Logos Hope to Cardiff Bay in May. Ignite will be providing the youth events. Then I am into another bunch of meetings.

However, it strikes me that if you believe that the miraculous is for now, there there is a release in healing and the prophetic then there should be an expectation of the unexpected. That in order to bring heaven to earth we should expect an interruption of normality and a requirement to go out of our comfort zones.  We need to be known for miracles in the market place. I am excited about what God has got planned for us!

Heaven on Earth with Bill Johnson

For the next few days, Lesley and I are at a conference with Bill Johnson of Bethel Church, Readding, California. It is as City Temple, Cardiff and I am delighted to say sold out. We heard some pretty good teaching last night and a bunch of people got healed. So we are excited about today ....BUT... looking at the snow outside, we wonder if we will get there!