THE SHACK - BOOK REVIEW

My visiting teacher mentioned she bought this book recently upon the recommendation of Jerry Johnston, a religious journalist for the Deseret News. While perusing the books at Costco one day there it was so, I got two copies one for me and one for a gift. There are two pages of recommendations for the book and the premise looked interesting. It is on the top 10 NY Times book list right now.

This is the story of Mac, who came from a sad childhood and is trying to create a loving home for his wife and 5 children. He has spiritual leanings, but church is not always comfortable. A family tragedy sends him into what he calls "the great sadness," as indeed it would any parent. He struggles to cope for several years when he receives a letter in the mail signed by "papa", which is his wife's name for God. It tells Mac to come to the shack and meet with papa. The shack was an important place in his great sadness. He finally decides to go by himself in a borrowed jeep.

God is there in human form along with Jesus in the form of a middle eastern looking back woodsman in a flannel shirt. The Holy Ghost is also there in the form of an ethereal Asian looking girl who gardens in gossamer clothes. The entire area is transformed into an almost Garden of Eden idyllic setting. During a weekend at the shack Mac is taught by these characters how to forgive in very creative ways. If you need to forgive someone of any sort of injustice this book gives you hope that it is possible through the atoning example of Jesus Christ.

What I didn't like about the book:

1. A few things in the story frustrated me a lot. The author wasted time trying to explain how these 3 characters could really be one, as the traditional Christian view promotes. But, as the story unfolds their personalities are distinct to the point that they actually disagree at times. The three in one concept never made much sense.

2. The author portrays this Godhead as taking three human forms of characters that Mac could relate to. So, it made me wonder: why was it necessary to portray this Godhead with "body parts and passions?" Well of course, because the body is wonderful! Anyone would want one even God. I thought of the parts of the story when Mac saw things in the eyes of God and Jesus; when their touch healed Mac; when Gods arms melted Mac's soul as he hugged him; when God "wiped away the tears," in Mac's eyes as He has promised all of us. Food and eating is an important part of the story. We eat and cook together out of love for each other as well as sustenance for the body. The most spiritual experience a human can have is holding a baby. Oh yes, God would want and need a body for his loving work. How do you wipe away tears without a hand?

3. There was a part in the book when Mac talks to God about religion and God discounts its value. Jesus said in John 7:17: "If any man will do his will he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." God has a will and he has doctrine. Religious intuitions try to interpret the scriptures as best they can to create a basis for good wholesome God centered loving living. I am personally grateful for a prophet I believe God inspires and directs. I am also grateful that I am intitled to a personal witness for any doctrine. When you read the scriptures you feel God's presence more and are stronger in living a loving life. In the book "love" is all that we need and I do believe it is the most important part of religion. But, evil exists and it is a powerful force trying to draw us away from being loving. We are all naturally self absorbed and self centered. Religion shows us a better way. Once I wrote a 15 page treatise on "A Case for Organized Religion." I feel strongly about the value of religion. I can't resist giving a quote from Harold Kurshner, a Jewish Rabbi, from his book "Who Needs God."

"In congregational worship, regularly scheduled services on a Saturday or Sunday morning, I have come to believe that the congregating is more important than the words we speak. Something miraculous happens when people come together seeking the presence of God. The miracle is that we so often find it. Somehow the whole becomes more than the sum of its parts. A spirit is created in our midst which none of us brought there. In fact, each of us came there looking for it because we did not have it when we were alone. But in our coming together, we create the mood and the moment in which God is present." (Who Needs God, p. 149)

"The Shack" had some inspiring moments, some surprises at the end and a lot of thought provoking aspects but it's great value is in learning how we can forgive through Christ.

PUMPKIN BARS

This is a quick moist cake that can be cut into finger bars.

Beat Together:

4 Eggs
1 ½ C. Sugar
¾ C Oil
1 16 oz. Can pumpkin

Add:2 C. Flour
2 tsp. Baking powder
1 tsp. soda
2 tsp. Cinnamon
1 tsp Salt
 

1 cup each nuts or chocolate chips - optional
Spread in a large sided greased cookie sheet.

Bake 350 for 20 min.

Fost with cream cheese frosting.

MUSINGS ABOUT CANNING

This is a painting I forgot I had done. It is from a photo in
Better Homes and Gardens. A version of this story was published last Thrusday in the Mormon Times section of the Deseret News:
http://mormontimes.com/mormon_voices/reader_voices/?id=4850

Oh fall, glorious fall! When an old woman’s heart turns to thoughts of canning peaches and other horrifying tasks.

Last night in a bookclub meeting the conversation was heavily spiked with talk about canning peaches and various other things. It was obviously on the mind of many because they were up to their sticky elbows in the process. It created a pang in my soul. One of memories, good and bad; guilt because I am not doing it; loss because I am not doing it and sheer comfort and joy because this year I have canned nothing.

Canning is an art form—a hunter-gatherer endeavor packed in our DNA to preserve food for our families as we perceive our role to provide sustenance. Recently I read a bunch of letters that my grandmother received from her sisters in the 1930s and 40s. The correspondence was filled with tales of what they were canning at the moment. It surprised me that this pursuit would merit so much hand written space in their letters.

As a young woman I saw canning as a right of passage into married womanhood. It was so much a part of my growing up that there was no question in my mind that I would do it too. My mother was obsessed with canning. She preserved everything and anything she could get her hands on to the tune of hundreds and hundreds of bottles of food yearly.

Canning began mid summer when the green beans came on and ended with the last fruit of the season. My mother canned all kinds of jams, fruit, tomatoes and pickles. She loved to make pickles and mastered the art of every variety. When I was growing up there was always a plate of various pickles on the table when we had dinner. I think it was a holdover to the time when fresh produce wasn’t always available.

A typical canning event with my mother began early in the morning on a day that would end very hot in a house that didn’t have air conditioning. Often we would try to find a place to pick fresh fruit for a reasonable price. Door to door fruit peddlers were common and we often bought from them. A canning day ended with my bedraggled mother, in a chaotic house, standing in front of a counter full of sparkling jars, her hands on her chest in ultimate pride. The jars would stay there for a few days and often I would catch my mother gazing at them like I do a work of art I am especially proud of producing.

Once my mother fell out of a peach tree and tore her hand open very seriously needing many stitches. My father didn’t do well with blood. I had never seen him more sympathetic to my mother. The injury wasn’t good but the event helped me to see he had some empathy for her.

So, I canned. Not like my mother but I did a little fruit, jam and tomatoes if I could get them free or reasonable—a few dozen bottles. We ended up planting some fruit trees in the back yard and when they produced I couldn’t get past the guilt and canned the fruit. I also planted a lot of tomato plants in my garden as they were my favorite finished "put up" product because they tasted so much better than the store bought varieties.

The last time I canned peaches went like this: I bought the peaches from a local farm for $12 a bushel which was reasonable compared to what they are selling for now. This week at a farmers market I saw them for $20 a box. Maybe the box was half a bushel. On this fateful day I canned all day. My youngest hanged on my leg and cried most of the day. My stove blew up because of the intense heat it was pumping out hour after hour. At midnight I was mopping up a sticky kitchen from a few bottles that had broken in the process. I did a calculation of how much the peaches cost me per bottle and with the supplies and the blown out stove I was in the hole big time. I went to bed with a promise—no more home canned peaches. That promise has been kept. I still put up a few tomatoes and jam. One year I did apricot nectar when we had a bumper crop. I can’t quite shake the desire totally but as an empty nester I can say, "been there done that."

Recently I spent some time with my brother Cliff and discovered something about him I hadn’t known. He said he loved canning and every summer put up everything he could. I was stunned. I think the canning gene went to him instead of me. I felt relieved. The canning guilt faded away. Actually, it has been gone for a long time and I didn’t even need therapy to get there.

WHY WHITE BLOUSES AT WOMEN'S CONFERENCE

I received this today from my sister-in-saw. It is obviously getting sent around and after reading it I know why. It is a story of women supporting each other in a world wide church. I don't even know the full name of the sender but Bravo! I loved it.

Hello Family and Friends -

Well, I broke down and decided to send a quick email to let you know that the choir for the General Women's Broadcast tomorrow night was selected from my area and I am in it. Not that I care if you look for me because I won't wave to you ~ but I just had to share some things I have learned and felt during the last 7 weeks at rehearsals. Just in case you want to (mother and sisters), I am just to the conductor's left in the middle about 5 rows up.

First, you will see that we are wearing white blouses. Some people have commented to me their surprise at the color choice (or lack thereof) but I have to tell you the story behind this. Sis. Beck, the General R.S. Pres., stopped into our practice one night as a surprise and she spoke for a few minutes. First, I cannot describe the feeling she brought with her, the power of the Holy Ghost as testified to us of the Lord's hand in this conference and her humble pleading for help in her talk (she looked tired). She said that as she has traveled the world, she has felt such a powerful need to communicate to the women worldwide, regardless or race, economics, etc. that we are sisters and ALL members of the LORD'S church - together. She said that she felt inspired to request that we wear white because everywhere she has gone, the women always show up in a white clean shirt somehow. She said she didn't know how it was possible in some areas to have anything clean let alone white - but they always come somehow in white, even if it is a tee-shirt, cleaned and turned inside out so the writing on it doesn't show. So, she wanted them to see the choir and know that they could be part of it regardless of money or situation. They also asked us to not wear jewelry (or very minimal) so that women who are not sure where the next meal is coming from don't feel such an economic division between Utah and them.

They have worked to prepare us spiritually as much as musically. From the first night, they have said, the music is secondary. The testimony of Jesus Christ is primary. It is only about Him and the sisters out there. From the second we started rehearsing, the Spirit has been tangible and present. Every time, I leave feeling changed inside. At our first rehersal, they said that there wouldn't be any new or original special songs. They told us that the conference is translated into the various languages, except the music. The music is always in English. They are many versions of Hymnals in the world, but they don't have every song in them. In fact, there are only about 15-20 songs (if I remember correctly) common among them all. So, to unify the sisters again, they chose 4 of the songs that are in every hymnal, so even if they don't understand our language, they will know the song and feel it is their hymns and their Church.

The theme of the music is rejoicing and hope in the Savior. In light of the events of the recent days (remember, my husband works for a bank), I can't tell you the power and peace I feel when I practice these songs. I invite you to listen closely to the words of the songs. They have come to me with force I have rarely felt in music ~ for example: "His kingdom cannot fail. He rules over earth and heaven." When it seems that everyday something else is failing, His kingdom cannot fail. Or, "I would learn the Healer's art", "Find in Thee my strength my beacon", or just the simple phrase "Lift up your hearts! Lift up your voice! Rejoice again I say rejoice." I have felt things during this preparation time that I never dreamed of feeling or learning. So, I felt the spirit say as I was practicing tonight " 'Lift up your voice' and send some thoughts to those you love." So, here are my thoughts and my love for whomever of you needs them.

My testimony has never been stronger of Jesus Christ and his love for us. My favorite name for him is "Savior." I feel it in every fiber of my being. He will not fail us if we cleave to Him. It is a marvelous time to be on the earth and great things are happening in this Church! It is his kingdom we are a part of. It is a privilege to bear His name and to try to be like Him. It is worth fighting for and holding our standards high. When we had our dress rehearsal in the Conference Center, and the organ started playing HUGE, and sound pouring out of the pipes over us, and singing with all the feeling of our souls, my heart felt like it would explode! I never considered how intimately the Savior watches over the preparations of conference, but I testify He is in every detail, every plan, every element of it. It is His conference, His church, His world, His people, His Love, and I am so grateful for the chance to sing my testimony to you tomorrow night! I will have you in my mind and heart! Thanks for indulging me.

XXOO

Sara

FAITH IS SPOKEN HERE #3

Another Story from Betsy Nagel's Women's Conference talk BYU 2006


3. Seek comfort and peace from the scriptures (Nancy)

Let me tell you about another shining face. Nancy grew up in the little Louisiana bayou town of Thibodaux. She joined the church as a young adult and married a lifelong member who was in Louisiana to work the oil rigs one summer. Twenty seven years and seven children later, Nancy found herself divorced, moved out of their beautiful Uptown New Orleans home, and living in student housing with three teenagers and an eight year old, while she was finishing a degree in order to support her family.


When Katrina hit, they evacuated to Thibodaux where most of her large Catholic family still lived. Since it would be a few months before they could get back into New Orleans, she put the children in school, enrolled in classes herself and arranged for a place to live. It had been an abandoned cottage, across the street from her parents and next door to the family meat market. With the help of about 20 extended family members, the cottage was renovated and made habitable. Nancy proudly showed us pictures of the new kitchen, and the tidy bedrooms.

She expressed gratitude for the safety of her family and the help of extended family and friends, but also great anxiety about the future and special concern for her children. A few days later I was reading 3 Nephi 22, where Jesus is quoting Isaiah. He speaks of the floods of Noah. I thought of the floods of Katrina. He talks about the Lord hiding his face for a moment. I thought of Nancy trying to figure out her life alone. Isaiah speaks of foundations with sapphires and windows with agates and gates of carbuncles. Then it says, "Great shall be the peace of thy children…..This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord." (3Ne 22:13.17) The words jumped right off the page and I could see Nancy’s little cottage, studded with jewels, her children, faithful and loving and supportive of her. So I wrote her a note and told her of this experience. I want to read to you the note that came in reply.


"I was on my way to Baton Rouge on Friday night to attend the temple when I checked the mail and found your card. I took out my scriptures to search for the reference you mentioned. In doing so, I realized the verses you referred to were part of the chapter that the Lord led me to, 2 days after the hurricane. I was praying and crying and figured I’d better open the scriptures to search for comfort. The electricity was still out and I was in a hot room reading with a flashlight. The page opened to the Topical Guide on the "W" page and my tear-filled eyes fell on the word, "widow." I went to 3 Ne 22. It truly comforted me on another one of my moments of enlightenment amid hardship. So it was with your card as I re-read the verses and this time pictured my new little sanctuary set in gems and my children being blessed and watched over by a loving Father in Heaven."


As we learn to feed our spirits and find comfort through the scriptures, our "assurance of things hoped for" will increase. A new song, or as Nancy says, "a moment of enlightenment" can come, even in the midst of great hardship and heartache. "With everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer." (3Ne 22:8) With this comfort, we can continue to step forward towards the light ahead, dim as it may sometimes seem.

MOVIE REVIEW - PENELOPE

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi92274969/ You can get a good idea by seeing the trailer.

Penelope was a little goofy but enjoyable anyway. It had an old fashioned fairytale feel to it. We watched it with Mike's sister and her husband and everyone liked it. Yes, even the men. It is a nice reminder to women that it is not about being perfect.

FAITH IS SPOKEN HERE #2

This is the second story from the talk "Faith is Spoken Here" by Betsy Nagel given in the 2006 Women's Conference at BYU

2. Express our faith through service to others (Beverly)
I remember attending church for the first time in Philadelphia. It was fast day, and one woman spoke of attending the temple in Washington, D.C., the day before. I remember thinking her face was glowing and she was perfectly beautiful and I wanted to get acquainted with her. After the meeting she came up to me and introduced herself. She was the RS president and noticed I was new. I noticed that up close she wasn’t that perfect. Who is? She looked tired, her hair was a little out of place, her make-up was gone - but she still had that shining countenance.

Over the next few months I became well acquainted with Beverly as I served with her in the RS. She spent every waking moment attending sweetly to her large family or to sisters in the ward, many of whom lived as much as an hour from where she lived. She loved to read, sing, and play the piano, but rarely indulged in these activities for lack of time.

On her birthday I decided the best present I could give her would be a day off, so I offered to tend her pre-schooler while she had a day to do what she wanted. I felt so proud of myself for thinking of such a generous present! When she returned late in the afternoon I couldn’t wait to hear what she had done with the time. Imagine my disappointment when she told me she had spent the day visiting a couple of sisters who lived in the most depressing place I have ever seen. It was called "The Philadelphia Home for the Incurables." It looked as bad as the name sounds. It was an old gray stone building with so many trees around it that no grass could grow. It smelled bad. It was dank and musty and not air conditioned. I had visited these sisters a couple of times with Beverly and couldn’t think of anyplace worse to spend time.

When she told me of her day I was obviously disappointed. "But I wanted you to do something for you," I protested. "Betsy, you don’t understand. I did it for me. That was what I wanted to do and I don’t usually have enough time to do it." I was humbled and realized why she had a shining face. I remembered Alma’s words to the brethren of the church. "Have ye spiritually been born of God? (Alma 5:14) "Can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?" (Alma 5:19) Remember the primary song, "If you’re happy and you know it – then your face will surely show it."

Today Beverly continues to sing her song of faith through service as a temple worker in the DC temple, getting up at 3am every Saturday to make the drive from Philly to Washington. And yes, she still has a shining face."

CURRIED SQUASH SOUP

Years ago Mike and I went to Boston in October. We happend onto a home botique and had a cup of Curried Squash Soup. I couldn't stop thinking about it and came home to create my own version. I make this every fall when winter squash are fresh. It is kinda "chick" soup. Mike will eat it but doesn't adore it like me. So, I usually make a pot and eat it for lunch for a week or so. I also like to make it as a dinner starter and serve in cups to sip while dinner is waiting to be served at Thanksgiving or Christmas. If you are not a big curry fan just add a touch. I find the reason most people don't like curry is because it is often overdone in dishes.

Peel, scrape seeds and cut up a 3 lb. winter squash. This can be an acorn, butternut or banana squash. (acorns are hard to peel butternut is my favorite) Place in a soup pot and cover with water. Add 1 onion cut up, 2 ribs of celery cut up and 2 large cloves of garlic to season. Cover and simmer for 30-40 minutes or when all the veggies are nice and soft. I have a hand blender that works great for blending the soup right in the pot to get it smooth (you can purchase these for about $10…very handy for lots of things). Or put in a blender in batches until smooth. Add salt, pepper and curry powder to taste. (About curry: I like Golden Curry Paste. It comes in a box next to the oriental foods. It is very mild and sweet. Add a piece at a time until you like it) Add ½ C whipping cream or 1 C half-and-half . I like the soup better if it is not very thick so adjust the water. I like it best served in sipping mugs.

FAITH IS SPOKEN HERE

Two years ago Maren and I attended Women's Conference at BYU in May. We were lucky enough to hear this talk by Betsy Nagel entitled "A New Song--Faith is Spoken Here" Maren and I loved this talk so much I got online after to find a copy and was able to get it. Betsy Nagel told 3 stories and I will print them all in time. Margaret in this story was with our friends the Hoffmans in Mexico City when they were there. Oh, what beautiful people love the Lord!
1. Express gratitude – learn to see the Lord’s hand in all things . Learning to recognize the hand of the Lord in the many good things of our lives will help to increase our faith in Him.


My friend Margaret and her husband had planned for years to serve several missions. They sold their house in New Orleans last May and retired early so that they could go while they were healthy and young. They were in the MTC and watched the reports about Katrina on TV, feeling very fortunate that they had dodged a big bullet. As soon as they arrived in Mexico City, Margaret had trouble with shortness of breath. "You’re moving from sea level to this high altitude. It will take a little while to acclimate." After 7 weeks of not getting better, the area doctor decided she ought to come back to the US for some tests. She was quickly diagnosed with stage four lung cancer.

I had the opportunity to visit with her several times in December and January. With each visit she assured me that her life was in the Lord’s hands and he would do for her what was best. When I questioned the fact that her pre-mission physicals didn’t turn up the problem, she said to me, "That is just one of the blessings in this whole thing. If they had found the cancer earlier, we wouldn’t have been able to go on a mission. Instead, we were blessed with a wonderful seven week mission."


On another occasion she said, "There are only blessings in life. The Lord blesses us with opportunities every day. It is up to us to use them well." I attended her funeral on Valentine’s Day, knowing that Margaret left a legacy of faith for her family, enhanced by her gratitude for the Lord’s hand in her life.


In Exodus we read, "The pillar of the cloud was darkness to the Egyptians, but it gave light by night to the Israelites." (Ex 14:20 – JST) If we are looking for the light, it is there and we can find it - no matter the circumstance. As we express gratitude, and even thank him for the trials themselves, we can find a hymn of thanks to sing.

OUR WILL BY C. S. LEWIS

The non-believer often accuses the Christian of letting the doctrines of their church control them. What they don't understand is that we gain freedom by choosing to follow the precepts we see as good. "And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32) No one tells me what to do. I choose and feel joy and direction with my choices. The following is a quote by C. S. Lewis from Screwtape.

 
Satan’s aim is the absorption of our will into his, the increase of his own area of selfhood at our expense. But the obedience which God demands of men is quite a different thing. God loves us, and He wants us to be like Him. He wants to fill the universe with us; He wants our lives to be qualitatively like His own, not because He has absorbed us but because our wills freely conform to His. Satan wants cattle who can finally become food; God wants servants who can finally become sons. Satan wants to suck in, God wants to give out. Satan is empty and would be filled; God is full and flows over. Satan’s war aim is a world in which he has drawn all other beings into himself; God wants a world full of beings united to Him but still distinct.