The Shack part 1

Working out on the bankout wagon gives me a lot of time to think and a little bit of time to do whatever I may desire (as long as I'm not away from the tractor). So I've been using the time waiting for trucks to read a book I received for graduation called "The Shack." This book has stormed the bestsellers lists with little or no advertising and has been a huge success for its author and its publisher, who expected next to nothing from it. It has received numerous endorsements from people all over the Christian community, who laud it's message and writing style. The book has been called "Pilgrim's Progress" for our generation, a must-read for all Christians, brilliant, one of the best books ever written, life-changing, etc.

Maybe I'm just too hard-hearted. The first time I heard about this book was on the Way of the Master Radio Show (a wonderful program available in podcast form) and it was not necessarily positive. Let me explain why.

The Shack centers around a man named Mack, who lost his youngest daughter to a serial killer, who was never caught, four years ago. The trail dead-ended at a shack in the woods, where his daughter's blood-stained dress was discovered. After that, he fell into the great sadness which has lasted for years. One day, he discovers a note in his mailbox. It wasn't delivered from the postman, and it is signed "Papa," his wife's favorite word for God. The note asks him to come to the shack this weekend and since his family is out of town, Mack goes. There he meets Papa, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Most of the book is concerned with this visit. This is where the book gets a little shaky. Jesus looks like I'd expect Jesus to look like, a middle-eastern not super-handsome Jew. Papa is a giggling African American Woman, and the Holy Spirit is a mirthful Asian Woman. Eh, wot?

The rationale Peterson (the author) gives for this is that God is a spirit, and therefore neither male nor female; showing God as female is just as ludicrous as portraying him as Male. Also, the book is about breaking stereotypes put upon God by mankind, and portraying God like that breaks all the stereotypes. Okay. I can agree with that, I guess. But it's just hard for me. I don't really like seeing my God portrayed as a giggling fat grandma. I'm still reading, and doing my best to not let that bother me. I'm only halfway through, so I'll post my final thoughts when I'm done reading. How about you? Do you think the way Peterson portrays God is respectful?

I'm up way too late.

Yessir. Goodnight everyone. I neeed to sleepel qned rest. Uhg.

Gooodnigh.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, ugh.

So I'm working on finishing all the thank yous I had to write for graduation. I'm finishing today, praise the Lord. Here's a small taste of what I've been through. This is about 8% of the total amount I had to write (about 90). And I know I'll have to write even more once I get married. Not looking forward to that part.

Has anyone here gone on a long backpacking trip?

This week the wheat was too moist to harvest (it has to be less than 12% humidity for the elevators to accept it, and we were harvesting stuff that was at 20%, which is bad) so we've just been doing weird things at the shop. I even de-virused my Uncle's computer there, so now the green star gps system in the combines should be able to sync with his computer. Anyway, on to my story.

Yesterday I took a trip to Spokane with my Mom and Brother to get ready for my year of Bible College. One part of that year is a week long backpacking trip. I am not the most outdoorsy person you'll ever meet, and I love "earth-worshippers" the same way Jesus loved the Pharisees. Anyway, we spent a bunch of time in REI looking for backpacks and non-cotton clothes. I had no idea it took so much time to find all of this stuff. When we were done, and I had a back car seat full of gear, my brother turned to me and said, "You get to see me jealous of you today, Darren. It's like the Salmon spawning, you don't get to see it very often."

Today I had to work in the field and Wayne and Mom made a trip down the road and boated on the river. When I got home from work I told Wayne, "This is a rare opportunity, Wayne. You get to see me jealous of you. It's like you getting jealous of me, you don't get to see it very often."

Video Blog 1

So I didn't have enough thought or want to type everything out, so I making a video. Here it be, like a wasp about to sting you. Swat it with your clicker!



I actually didn't say everything I wanted to. I'm not as eloquent as I'd like to be when the camera is on, but I'll get better. Like tofu!

We Started Harvesting Today...

It's only the first whole day of harvest, (we started yesterday afternoon) and I'm already tired of it. It's like I never left for the fall, winter, and spring... Oh well. Only six weeks left. :D

I'd type more, but I want to sleep. Goodnight, you ragamuffin imps. Goodnight, knight. Goodnight, moon. Goodnight, Blogger. Goodnight, word "goodnight."

Direction of Daring Wagon Dragon

Daring Wagon Dragon is now a blog about me. I'm gonna talk about me and the things I like, because I never get to do it any other time and I'm potentially the only one who will read this. Posts without the tag "Journal" will not be about my life. By the way, I've been accepted into Jackson Hole Bible College, so I'll be going there in a few weeks. Yay!

Harvest Begins!

That could be a title of a movie or some b-rate video game. Anyway, we got out of the shop today and into the fields. I don't like fieldwork, but I was tired of shopwork, so it's all good. Pays well, and I need money because I want to make money and pay for college. Yep yep.

The Dark Knight also came out tonight, technically tomorrow. I wanted to see it, but it was sold out! Ben and I were going to go. Some other people too... Ben and Pastor and Jordon V. are still going, but I'm not. Oh well, I'll see it later. It's going to be great. I'm almost more excited for it that I was for spider-man 3, but that was a more youthful excitement. This is a mature ecstasy.

Hellboy II

Went to see Hellboy II today with a bunch of friends. Actually, only 4 of them were around my age, the rest of them were parents. Good movie. I'll watch it again someday.