This chapter is where Mack gets to start chatting with God.
He spends most of the time with God the Father, discussing some of his preconcieved notions of what God might look like, act like, be like.
He also learns that “This weekend is about relationship and love.”
These were a few lines that jumped out at me:
- “I’m not who you think I am, Makenzie.” Her words weren’t angry or defensive.
- “Love is NOT the limitation; love is the flying. I AM love.”
- “The God who is––the I am who I am––CANNOT act apart from love!”
- “This weekend is about relationship and love”
I really enjoyed the analogy of the bird and love not being the limitation, but the essence, the point, the flying.
I’m curious what everyone thought when ‘God’ said (on pg 91),
“Don’t you remember your seminary classes? These kids aint sayin’ anything I haven’t heard before; they’re just full of vinegar and fizz. Lots of anger and, I must say, with some good reason too. They’re just some of my kids showin’ and spoutin’ off. I’m especially fond of those boys, you know. Yep, I’ll be keepin’ my eye on ‘em.”
I’ve been giving some thought, but I’m still not sure what to think about the quote…funny thing, I don’t even remember reading it. Sounds like he understands their spoutin’ off, but doesn’t approve at the same time. Not sure. What did you think?
Where did Jonathan go?
The statement feels like it was outta nowhere (contextually) but if I read and re-read it, it seems to emphasize three things. That there’s no thought, idea, or action that hasn’t been done before (that awesome scene from Garden State comes to mind), that intellectual knowledge of the Bible isn’t the point rather the relationship with/through the Holy Spirit is, and what strikes a chord for me is the statement “I’ll be keepin’ my eye on ‘em.”
Even if we stray away from the point of our servitude to God (as a life purpose), He’s watching us. He’s still in control. We’re still under His thumb and under His authority.
Did anyone else come to a similar conclusion? Other thoughts?
“Under his thumb…” What did you mean by that?
Jonathan……it looks as if you knocked him senseless on Facebook. Good job, now were down to three and we’re only on chapter six.
By under His thumb I meant subordinate to, less than, etc.
OK, I’m glad I asked. I thought you were meaning “under his thumb” like what we would do to a bug, holding it down to the cement or squashing him “under our thumb”. I was about to go off, but glad to see I don’t have to. Lucky you
I am assuming by the silence that we are done with this chapter? Jonathan? Nicole?
I think God was saying that His eye would be on them as individuals – that he pursues us with His love.
When was God first called the “Father”? I see it in Isaiah 9:6 used of Jesus… I need to do a word study on this. Is the Father God focused initiallly on Israel? He is called God throughout Genesis, and perhaps God is refered to as male in signifying the church and Israel in relationship to Him. There’s something there, I think, maybe…
This chapter also has a long discussion on the trinity, and how it works – this whole book has these elements. Usually all we hear someone say is that it can never be understood – Young gives it a shot knowing he will undoubtadly miss, but who has another description?