I have been trying to make more time for myself to do a little reading before I go to bed..the down side is once I start, I can't stop!  The two books that I have just finished reading  - well, awesome does not describe them.  They have challenged me to think and evaluate.  The first one is "90 Minutes in Heaven".  It is written by Don Piper.   He is a minister that was in a car wreck and pronounced dead on scene...he spent 90 minutes in heaven...he was then discovered to be alive and is telling his story of his time in heaven.  What sticks with me about this book is his inability to find "human/earthly" words to describe heaven.  He said many times that we do not have words that do what he experienced justice!  This book makes you want to call everyone you know and say, "Do you believe?"  It makes you want to make sure that nobody would miss out on this forever that the Bible promises!  I won't tell you more (don't want to ruin it for you if you read it), but would encourage you to pick up a copy.  Way cool!

The second book is "The Shack" by Wm Paul Young.  It is a fiction book and under the title says "where tragedy meets eternity".  I will share that this man, Mack, goes through an experience that would be a nightmare to each of us and begins his spiritual journey for answers.  This book addresses rules vs relationships...what is love.....why does God let this happen?...what is faith...How do God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit work...and so much more.  It breaks the sterotypes that we are often taught (by people) about who our God is - Really enjoyed this book.  The end result is that God never created this world to be full of independence, pain and suffering, evil.  We were created to be in perfect union and we chose/choose to map our own quest instead of enjoying where our relationship with God can take us.  Grace is readily available and the Holy Spirit is always ready, but we often deny it in our independence.  Would love to see what you thought of these books if you read them....if you haven't...it would be a blessing for you..take it!