June 9, 2009 Why Life Journey Has Asked the Author of The Shack to Conference With Us.

Last year I was getting my hair cut by my favorite beautician who is a relatively new Christian. She is struggling with the church and constant feelings of criticism that she hears spoken by fellow Christians. She also has a tremendous desire to be God's new person in the workplace. We've become good friends and meet periodically for coffee to talk about Jesus, God, and us. She asked: "So, have you read The Shack yet?" I said, "No! I've never heard of it!" She said, "Everyone in my church is reading it. I don't understand everything in the book; but for the first time I think I might like God a little better!"

I purchased a copy that afternoon and read it. The book is described on the back cover as "an absorbing work of fiction." It is indeed a work of fiction and must be read and used as such. However, for me, the book tackled head on one of today's toughest questions, "How can a God of love allow such evil in the world?" Furthermore, it did it with the kind of gentleness described in Matthew 12:20: A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory.

As Life Journey Ministries™ prepares its 2010 conference: "Being Sunday People in a Monday World™," we knew that we wanted William Young to be one of our speakers. We wanted him because how we perceive God dramatically impacts how we perceive and interact with other people – especially in our fields of work.  Often in today's work environment, Christianity – and God – is perceived only through the eyes of ethics and moralism on the one side; or through the eyes of a sweet, syrupy and totally impotent and ineffective love on the other. Through the genre of fiction, William Young was able to bring a new understanding to God without making Him impotent regarding the reality of evil. It also challenged me personally whether I can (or want to, or am committed in faith to) actually trust God!

When discussing theology, Life Journey Ministries™ believes the Bible IS the Word of God! It is our ultimate source and authority within our ministry.  However, we are called to understand and use it within this precise time of history and within our present-day issues as a society. Life Journey™ particularly applies it to our fields of work! We also realize The Shack is fiction and is not without controversy amongst the Christian community. See, for example: The Shack Review. We want William Young as a speaker not for agreements or disagreements over the book's theology, but precisely because of its provocative ability to make each of us look once again at our understanding of, and relationship with, and our trust in God! We believe that our understanding and perception of God and what He is doing – whether formed through Scriptures or some other means - is key to our ability to truly meet, worship and co-create with God in our fields of work; and through that dynamic better become what God has created us to become. Therefore, we welcome this provocative means of helping all participants at next year's 2010 Coastal Conferences look closely at their perception of and relationship with God. Through Young's presentation we hope they can better understand how those perceptions impact their ability to be Sunday People in a Monday world by letting faith continuously transform them and their work!

Carolyn Schoenborn
Life Journey Ministries™ Executive Director