When Character Was King

Fall break is over. I was going to take advantage of the time to get a head start on homework for the rest of the semester. Then my sister told me to do something I can't do during school. That made a lot of sense. So I bid my homework farewell for the week and sat down, and read. It was amazing.
That said, here are some of my favorite aspects of the story of Ronald Reagan, "When Character Was King" by Peggy Noonan.

There are two things I learned to admire about Reagan that actually reflected each other in a lot of ways:

The first was his character, and specifically, his "tough skin". Any president is going to have criticism and degrading comments thrown at them right and left. Reagan didn't let this get to him. He didn't let it rob him of any sleep. And most of the time, he didn't even try to defend himself; in fact, he often made light of it. That is an incredibly difficult thing to do. But Reagan learned the art of not letting it get to him, and I think that is one of the qualities that made him a great leader.

The second thing that impressed me was his sense of humor. You don't often hear of a president who loves cracking all kinds of jokes. But taking things a little less seriously can really help you cope with difficult situations, and I think that's where Reagan was right on. When one of those critical comments came his way, that he was lazy and didn't know the meaning of hard work, Reagan said: "I know hard work never killed anyone, but I figure why take a chance?" That cracks me up. Not only did he not need to defend himself, he made light of it and gave everyone else a good laugh. That takes self-control. And it takes confidence to know that when you're doing what you believe to be the right thing, everyone else opinion's are not top concern.

Reagan got shot 9 weeks into his first term as president. Before the bullet was actually discovered, there's a hospital scene with a president close to dying and doctors panicking because no one knows why. They hustle Reagan into the operating room to perform a surgery in hopes of determining the problem, and he says with what must have been a wink, "I just hope you're all Republicans." They weren't, but a doctor replies, "Today, Mr. President, we're all Republicans."

Although Reagan certainly wasn't perfect, and made his share of mistakes like any president, we have a lot to learn from this strong man.  For one, don't let what people say deter you from doing what's right, and two, don't take yourself too seriously.

The Shack: Helpful or Hogwash?

I recently finished the novel, The Shack. You've probably heard of it. In fact, you may even be a little concerned that a Christian would be reading something that many other Christians have labeled as slightly heretical. When I first picked up The Shack, though, I really wanted to see what all the hype was about; I'd heard so many differing reports about it, most of them negative, it was time to find my own position about it. It is my goal now to give an honest assessment of the book, the pros and cons, how it stands for a Christian and whether it's worth your time as a reader.

The story, without giving too much away, is centered on a Mackenzie Allen Phillips, whose little daughter is tragically kidnapped, and possibly killed during a family vacation. After a frantic search for the little Missy, the police and family are finally lead to a run-down shack where they find Missy's blood stained dress. Life is never the same for Mack, as he carries The Great Sadness of Missy's death constantly with him. Several years later, he receives a mysterious note from "Papa" inviting him to visit the shack and meet. Mackenzie has no idea what the note means, or who is sending it. But he is irresistibly drawn, and the rest of the book tells the story of how Mackenzie becomes reconciled to God amidst the heartache of The Great Sadness.

The most common objection I had heard before I read the book was that the God figure was portrayed as an robust southern black woman. This is true, but I believe the author's goal in this portrayal is to steer readers away from the common western stereotype of God, (the old white man with a long, flowy beard). Although I don't believe that God is female, I agree with the author that God does have the ability to exercise feminine attributes. After all, both male and female are made in his image. If read with a discerning eye, this portrayal of God can actually broaden your perspective and even give you new insights into God's character.  
“Mackenzie, I am neither male nor female, even though both genders are derived from my nature.  If I choose to appear to you as a man or a woman, it’s because I love you.  For me to appear to you as a woman and suggest that you call me papa is simply to mix metaphors, to help you from falling back so easily back into your religious conditioning.”


There are many aspects of this book that I greatly appreciated. I love how the author portrays the relationships in the Trinity. I love some of the interactions Mackenzie experiences with all the different members of the Trinity, especially Jesus. And there is a depiction of heaven near the end of the book that sparked my excitement and anticipation in a totally fresh way. The ceaseless love of the Father for his children, despite their failures, wrong choices, and regardless of the sufferings they experience, is such an incredible comfort.

A warning would be that there are several lines that are simply not supported biblically. At one point, Papa tells Mackenzie that the Trinity submits to each other in their relationship (true) and to us in our relationship (false). But these passages are pretty easy to spot, and don't spoil the book in my opinion. Although it's clear that not everything in the book is truth, there are many insightful passages that can help you see things from a different perspective.

So I would say read it. It provides an interesting view point on God, the Trinity, relationship, life and suffering and could even bring to light some important truths. And if nothing else, it would be a good exercise in determining what is biblical and what is not. :)

Press In.

A few short words I was encouraged and challenged by today from Matt Chandler:

Press in. Know the Lord. You could be giving an account of your life tomorrow.

Make it count.