Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/814497
Let'stakeawalkto- gether and as we do, we come upon a beautiful gar- den and in the garden a gently mov- ing stream cascading before our feet. Along its banks are cheerful yel- low-faced daisies. The water is crys- tal clear. We are drawn to drink from this stream; who wouldn't be? But in our traveler's guide we are warned that though the water looks refreshing, we shouldn't drink it for it flows out of a contami- nated spring. So now let's visit The Shack, as many God Talk readers have. The writer, Paul Young, sets out to tell a story, (some would say a story of his life's quest to find meaning amidst the inexplicable pain he experienced at a young age). Some would say of The Shack that it is just a story. But, it is so much more. It is a story about God instructing a hurting man, nicknamed Mack. We are drawn in to drink from the story, but its wa- ter comes from a contami- nated spring. So, how does one re- spond to those who em- braced The Shack by say- ing it warmed their heart, without hurting feelings? Yet, out of loving concern it must be said, the god of The Shack is but an idol of human invention far re- moved from the awesome God of the Bible. We see this in the trou- bled Mack's first meet- ing with "Papa." Note, the peer-like familiarity be- tween the two. Unlike Mack, when Isaiah sees the Lord high and lifted up, he cries out, "Woe is me." The disciples of Je- sus experienced fear at the sound of God's voice. I cannot begin to image Mack even able to speak before the holy God, let alone mock or accuse Him. Sam Worthington, "Mack", is a dedicated dad with a troubled past. While on a family camp- ing trip, Mack's daughter is kidnapped. Police de- termine that his daughter was murdered by a serial killer in a hunting shack, but do not find her body. Later, Mack finds a note in his mailbox asking him to come back to the shack where his daughter was killed, signed by "Papa," his wife's name for God. So, what does The Shack teach us about God? The movie alludes to God as Trinity but goes on to di- vide Him into a threesome lacking power and author- ity to govern the affairs of men. We meet a three- some weak but kind. And unlike the God revealed in Scripture as Spirit, we have a missing Father, and a bodied spirit. It is under- standable, based on Paul Young's life, that the Fa- ther image of God trou- bled him. In the movie, we see a god who sees people as rainbow-colored blobs, who says one-line zingers and dances to pop music alongside the Holy Spirit, who appears as three peo- ple, who does not find sin disturbing, who does not balk at sin, nor call for re- pentance. The cross is not God's idea but man's. The Cross is discussed, but what was accomplished through it is unclear. Papa speaks of truth that sets everyone free, and that truth is in the wood shop (referring to the Jesus fig- ure inside working on a project). The silence re- garding "the project" of Jesus to offer Himself as an atonement for our sins is deafening. The concept of hell is brought up. But the real sense of the scene is that no one will be punished for their sins in hell — even murderers and abus- ers — because Papa loves them just as Mack does his own children. The movie removes the con- cept of atonement and re- moves the need for a Sav- ior to die in our place. The god of The Shack is not in- terested in justice in an ul- timate sense. Was this depiction of God by the author of The Shack intentional or sim- ply literary license? In his recent book Lies We Be- lieve About God we learn it was intentional. As you read his recent book it be- comes clear that in The Shack, the author is put- ting forward his belief about God. I would concede The Shack offers an opportu- nity to point an unbeliever to the goodness of God or help a fellow-believer find freedom from guilt and shame. But, that is to point them away from the god of The Shack and to the God of the Bible. God's Word warns against false representa- tions and worship of God. Though some advocates of The Shack (not all, by any means) may feel closer to a god who is different than the God revealed in Scripture, such closeness is not toward God at all, but toward an idol con- structed in the image of our contemporary need for acceptance, and forged by our resistance to repen- tance, submission, and ac- countability. Presenting God as sim- ply a good-hearted sage who's always there for a chat is ultimately a cruel and dangerous thing to do. InJuly1982theRev. Dallas Dubke became Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church Red Bluff and Mt. Olive Lutheran Church Corning where he has served for the past 30 years. GODTALK Taking a visit to The Shack Dallas Dubke Anointed, the Commu- nity Baptist Church youth group, is taking a missions team to Youth With A Mis- sion in San Francisco. The group will present a variety show, Size of Grace, as a fundraiser for the trip at 6 p.m. Sunday, April 30 at the First Church of God, 1005 S. Jackson St. Doors will open at 5 p.m. During the show there will be many activities, such as vocal, instrumen- tal and dance performances put on by the team, as well as Selah Dance Academy's Hip-hop 3 class. There will be a snack bar, bake sale and silent auction. There will be a wide variety of auction items, including a gardening basket, pies, art work from local artists, dance lessons and photog- raphy sessions. The team going on this trip is led by Anoint- ed's youth leaders, Leiani Graves and Cory Graves, and Neesha Acord from Bridgeway, taking a group of high school students and young adults from the youth group. This group consists of Levi Townley, Nathan Townley, Gabe Crooks, Eliz- abeth Crooks, Serene Day, Hannah Gross, Hannah Pe- terson and Chloe King. Tickets are $5 at the door. If you are interested in donating to the auction, or have any questions, call Leiani Graves at 736-0684 or write to leiani@tehama- trader.com. If you are in- terested in donating to the bake sale, call Levi Townley at 949-6343. RELIGION Youth group to present Size of Grace CONTRIBUTED The Community Baptist Church youth group will present a variety show Sunday, April 30to raise funds for a San Francisco trip to assist Youth With A Mission. Pictured, front from le , are Annie Graves, Leiani Graves, Hannah Petersen, Chloe King; back from le , are Serene Day, Nathan Townley, Elizabeth Crooks, Levi Townley, Cory Graves, Gabe Crooks Neighborhood Full Gos- pel Church of Corning Sun- day will be hosting Sam and Maxine Kern, who come from the Bay Area and bring a fare of great old time gospel music and preaching of God's word. The pair will perform at the 10:45 a.m. service April 23 at the church, on the corner of First and South streets in Corning. Preceding the morning service, there will be Sun- day School for all ages at 9:30 a.m. Sam Kern is the brother of Sister Pearl Myers, a member of Neighborhood Church, who along with her husband started a church in Rancho Tehama several years ago. For more information, call 824-2323. NEIGHBORHOOD FULL GOSPEL Church to feature old time gospel music A pro-life community meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 24 at Community Baptist Church, 598 Roundup Ave. in Red Bluff. This meeting is to exam- ine the feasibility of re-es- tablishing a Christ-centered pregnancy care center in Red Bluff to serve Tehama County. Consider attending this important community meet- ing to be a part of helping women and saving babies. PRO-LIFE Community meeting set for Monday TheConnection/ His Way Church ComeWorshipwithUs Tuesday & Saturday at 6pm WithPastorsJohnandChuck 446 Walnut Street Downtown Red Bluff (across from Post Office) www.hiswayonline.org www.theconnection@vpweb.com Tehama County Church Directory RedBluff.... ABUNDANTLIFEFELLOWSHIP 21080LutherRd.•528-2499 Pastor J.E. Heitman • WORSHIP Sunday 10:45 AM & 6 PM BRIDGEWAY COMMUNITY CHURCH 345 David Ave • 527-0543 Pastor Scott Camp • Sunday 11:00AM, Sunday School 9:30AM CALVARY CHAPEL 12375 Paskenta Rd. • 527-8219 Pastor Gilbert DeLao Jr. • WORSHIP • Sunday 9 AM & 11:00 AM CHURCH OF CHRIST 1605 Park Ave • 529-3063 • Evangelist Gary Den WORSHIP • Sun. 11AM & 5 PM • Bible Study • Sunday 10 AM & Wed 7 PM CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Antelope 545 Berrendos • 529-2506 • Bishop Phillip Smith • Sunday 11 AM CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Red Bluff 545 Berrendos • 527-7012 • Bishop Jim Wilhite • Sunday 9 AM CHURCH WITHOUT WALLS 857 Washington St., Open Daily 9-11am Pastors Brad & Susan Harms•WORSHIP•Sunday 2PM•Bible Study Thur 2-4pm COMMUNITY BAPTIST CHURCH 598 Round -Up Ave. 527-4203 Pastor Dr. Paul Wright • WORSHIP • Sunday 9 AM • PRAYER • 6 PM CORNERSTONE CHURCH OF GOD Hwy. 36, Jorgenson 527-9210 • Pastor Roy Duggins • WORSHIP • Sunday 10 AM & 5 PM FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 501 Pine St. • 527-4361 Pastor Bruce Cloutier • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:15 AM FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH Hickory & Madison • 527-4688 Pastor Daryl Jones • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:30 AM FIRST CHURCH OF GOD Jackson & Luther • 527-5717 Pastor Sean Story • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:15 AM FIRST CHURCH OF THE NAZARENE Johnson & Hickory • 527-3361 Pastor Jesse Morris • WORSHIP • 10:30 AM FIRST SOUTHERN BAPTIST CHURCH 585 Kimball Rd. • 527-5083 Don St. John • WORSHIP • Sunday 11 AM FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 525 David Ave. • 527-5754 Pastor Scott Gessford • WORSHIP • Sunday 11 AM FREEDOM CHURCH 601 Monroe St. • 355-2284 • Pastors Pete & Bev Williams • WORSHIP Sunday 10:30 AM • YOUTH Thurs. 7 PM GATEWAY BAPTIST CHURCH, IND. FUND. 12830 Glasgow Dr. 527-2964 • Pastor Jeff Eldred • WORSHIP • Sunday 11 AM & 6 PM HIGH POINT ASSEMBLY 625 Luther Rd. • 527-0445 Pastor David Blythe • WORSHIP • Sunday 10 AM • Spanish Services 3 PM LAKE CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY CHURCH Lake Club • 347 6970 Jim Bredow, Pastor • WORSHIP • Sunday 8:30-10:15 AM NEIGHBORHOOD CHURCH 1625 Johnson St. • 527-8134 SERVICE • 10 AM NUEVA VIDA 11841 Hyw 99W • Red Bluff • Spanish-speaking Pastor Freddie Villasenor • WORSHIP • Sunday 11 AM OPEN VISTAS AWARENESS CENTER 807 Lincoln St. • 529-9285 Rv. Tresha Wing • SERVICE • Sunday 10 AM OUT OF THE BOX MINISTRIES-COWBOY CHURCH 585-3070 22812 Antelope Blvd. –– Wednesday 7 PM –– Sunday 10 AM PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Jefferson & Hickory St. • 527-0372 Rev. Beth Hoyt • WORSHIP 11:00AM • SUNDAY SCHOOl 9:30AM PENTECOSTAL CHURCH OF GOD 370 Kimball Rd. • 527-6346 Pastor Mike Cox • WORSHIP • Sunday 11:00AM RED BLUFF COMMUNITY CHURCH 1920 Park St. Pastor Stan Kolbert • SERVICES • Sunday 9:30 AM • 282-2248 RIVER COMMUNITY CHURCH 1500 S. Jackson St. • 217-9192 www.getintheriver.org Pastor Mark Roberts • Co-Pastor Nathaniel Porter • Sunday Services 10:30AM SABBATH COMMUNITY CHRISTIAN 705 So. Jackson St. • 529-1890 Pastor Ron Largent • WORSHIP • Saturday 10:45AM SACRED HEART CATHOLIC CHURCH 515 Main St. • Father Sherwin Colaste MASS • Saturday 5:15 PM, Spanish 7 PM • Sun. 8 AM, 10 AM, Spanish 12 PM THE SALVATION ARMY 944 Walnut St. • 527-8530 Major Kit Wetter, Pastor • SERVICES • Sunday 10 AM & 11 AM SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHRUCH 720 S. Jackson • 527-3733 Pastor Robert A. Clark • WORSHIP • Saturday 10:30 AM ST. PAUL LUTHERAN CHURCH Jefferson & Elm • 527-3414 Pastor Dallas D. Dubke • WORSHIP • Sunday 8:30 AM & 11 AM ST. PETER'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH Jefferson & Elm • 527-5205 Rev. Maryly Adair • Sunday 9:30AM, Holy Eucharist Rite II SUNRISE BIBLE FELLOWSHIP GARBC Corner of Cedar & Jackson 529-6884 • Pastor Chris Hurton • WORSHIP • 10:50 AM • Bible Study 9:30 AM TEHAMA COUNTY'S MERCY PLACE FELLOWSHIP, bilingual 836 Washington St., Red Bluff • 2 PM Sundays • 262-9474 TEMPLE BETH ISRAEL 8529 Placer Rd., Redding 243-5726 • For service dates & times 529-9246 TRINITY MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH 20920 Hampton Rhodes Dr. 528-8668•Pastor Loren Browning • WORSHIP • Sun. 10:45 AM & 5 PM - Wed. 6 PM THE CONNECTIONS HIS WAY CHURCH 446 Walnut St. • 529-4256 Worship Tuesday & Saturday, 6PM • Pastors John & Chuck • www.hiswayonline.org THE ROCK CHURCH OF RED BLUFF 285 Gilmore Road • 527-7234 Pastor V ik Hylen•WORSHIP • Sun. 10 AM & 6:30 PM - Tues. 7:3 0PM - Men's Prayer Sat. 9 AM VINEYARD CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP 738 Walnut St. • 527-2449 Pastor Luke Geraty • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:30AM WALNUT GROVE CHRISTIAN CENTER RHEMA Bible Church • 527-9065 435 Round Up Ave.• Pastor Michael Ragsdale • WORSHIP • Sun. 10:30 AM ZION CHRISTIAN MINISTRIES 836 Washington St. 529-1836 • Pastor Joshua John McKim • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:15 AM Bowman... COMMUNITY CHURCH Bowman Rd. & Landes • 347-6130 Pastor Mark Lugg • WORSHIP • Sunday 10 AM Capay... COMMUNITY FRIENDS CHURCH • 4th & Moller Ave. • 865-2806 Pastor Toni Brown • WORSHIP • Sunday 9:30 AM Manton... MANTON COMMUNITY CHURCH Forward Rd. • 474-5156 Pastor Michael Stiener•WORSHIP•Sunday School 9:30 Sun. 10:45 Corning... BELIEVERS CHURCH OF GOD 783 Solano St. • 824-6502 Pastor Dan Steigmn • WORSHIP • Sunday 10 AM CHURCH OF CHRIST 1418 South St. • 824-3603 WORSHIP • Sunday • 10:30 AM CHURCH OF CHRIST 1440 Yolo St. • 824-4333 David King, Minister • WORSHIP • Sunday 11 AM & 6 PM CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS Marguerite & Blackburn • Bishop Scott Davis • WORSHIP • Sunday 10 AM CORNING FOURSQUARE 404 5 th St. • 824-5776 • Sr. Pastor John Gehrung WORSHIP • Sunday: adults 9:15, 10:30 AM • Tues.10AM prayer meeting FAMILY BIBLE CHURCH Marin & Pear Sts. • 824-9989 Rev. Russ Ziegler • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:45 AM & 6 PM FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 506 Colusa St. • 824-3490 Pastor Chris Fissori • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:15 AM • Sunday School 9 AM FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH 1421 Marin St. • 824-5739 WORSHIP • Sunday 11 AM FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 824-5535 • 471 Marguerite Pastor Julie Horne • WORSHIP • Sunday 11 AM HARVEST CHRISTIAN CENTER CHURCH OF GOD 1006 6th St. 824-2091 • Pastor Michael Sharp • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:00AM IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH 824-5879 814 Solano St. • Father Cormac Lacre • MASS • Sun. 10AM, Spanish 12PM INDEPENDENT LUTHERAN CHURCH OF CORNING Houghton Ave. between Solano and Yolo Worship: Sunday 11 AM• Pastor Dennis Wyman • 526-4736 MT. OLIVE LUTHERAN CHURCH 341 Solano St. • 824-5530 Pastor Dallas D. Dubke • WORSHIP • Sunday 9 AM NEIGHBORHOOD FULL GOSPEL CHURCH 901 South St. • 824-2323 Pastor Ken Killinger • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:50 AM & 6 PM NEW LIFE ASSEMBLY CHURCH 824-3426 • Rev. Ezy Ulibarri WORSHIP • Sunda y 10 AM • Sunday School 9 AM OLIVE BRANCH BAPTIST FELLOWSHIP 565 1st St. • 824-3661 • SERVICE • Sunday 10:30 AM SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH West & Butte • 824-2153 Pastor Robert A. Clark • WORSHIP • Saturday 11 AM SONLIGHT WORSHIP CENTER 1520 East St. • 824-0175 Pastor Lenny Duval • WORHSHIP • Sunday 10:30 AM & Wed. 6:30 PM ST. ANDREW'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 820 Marin St. • 680-0353 Rev. Diana Lueckert • CHURCH • Sunday 10 AM Cottonwood... FOURSQUARE CHURCH 2400 Rhonda Rd. Rev. Paul Shrum • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:30 AM & 6 PM Dairyville... CONE COMMUNITY METHODIST CHURCH 11220 Hwy. 99E • 527-2329 Pastor Scott Gessford • WORSHIP • Sun. 9 AM El Camino... COMMUNITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Hwy. 99W • 385-2314 Pastor Scott Gessford • WORSHIP • Sunday 9:30 AM NEW LIFE BAPTIST CHURCH 8345 SR 99W, El Camino • 200-4112 Pastor John Bohrer • Sunday School • 9:30 AM • WORSHIP • 11 AM SHADY REST FULL GOSPEL CHURCH 7211 Hwy. 99W 385-2155 • Pastor Andrew Dalson • WORSHIP • Saturday 7 PM Gerber... BAHA'I FAITH OF TEHAMA COUNTY 385-1091 Prayer meetings Fridays 7:30 PM Brickyard Creek Apartments FAITH HOPE LOVE MINISTRIES 21941 Chard Ave. 385-1431 • Pastor Ina Driggers • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:30 AM GERBER BIBLE FELLOWSHIP 301 Samson @ Ventura 385-1718 • WORSHIP • Sunday 10 AM Los Molinos.... COMMUNITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Sherwood & Josephine 384-2656 • Pastor Ray Watkins • WORSHIP 11AM MILL CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH HWY 99E and Taft St., 384-1564 Pastor Carl DeBiase • WORSHIP • Sunday 11 AM & 6 PM SPIRIT OF LIFE PENTECOSTAL CHURCH OF GOD 25235 Orange St., 310-4990 Rev. Kenneth & Pamela Auld • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:30 AM & 6 PM Paskenta... PASKENTA FLOURNOY BIBLE CHURCH 13140 Round Valley Rd. Sunday 10:30 AM • 833-0557 Platina... ST. HERMAN OF ALASKA MONASTERY Begum Gorge Rd. Abbot Herman • LITURGY • Sunday 8:30 AM Rancho Tehama... COMMUNITY CHURCH (Non-Den.) • 585-2526 Pastor Stephen W. May • WORSHIP • Sunday 11 AM CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRIES Stage Coach Rd. • 585-2961 Pastor John and Sandra Edmiston • SERVICES • Sun. 10:30AM, Wed. 6 PM Tehama... ASSEMBLY OF GOD Third St. • 384-2603 Pastor Walter Bright • WORSHIP • Sunday 10:30 AM ST. STANISLAUS CATHOLIC CHURCH • 824-5879 Corner of 4th & D • MASS • Sunday 8 AM - Bilingual HOYT-COLE CHAPEL OF THE FLOWERS 816WalnutSt.-RedBluff FD 652 Thisdirectorysponsoredby: TEHAMA ESTATES A Retirement Community for the Active Senior Citizens 750 David Ave. - Red Bluff - 527-9193 REDBLUFF DODGE, JEEP, CHRYSLER, RAM Urgesyoutoworshipregularlyatthechurchofyourchoice 545Adobe Rd., Red Bluff - 366-3166 FAITH » redbluffdailynews.com Saturday, April 22, 2017 » MORE AT FACEBOOK.COM/RBDAILYNEWS AND TWITTER.COM/REDBLUFFNEWS B4