My Own Topic- Re-birth, Rawley

I met the author of The Shack. His name is Paul. I met him at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington DC in February. He came to speak at a young leaders meeting. He does not look like you would think; he was short and round with a face full of white hair. He shared his story with us. He was born into a missionary family and he hated God. He was raped by school administrator when he was six years old and in his school in New Guinea, he did the same to younger boys as he as a form of hazing in their school; he kept hating God. He met a woman when he was in college and proposed twelve days after meeting her. He kept reminding us that throughout all this time, everyone knew him as the funy guy and the joker. He never let people see who he really was because he was so afraid of how dark he was inside. His wife loved the Lord, she was a strong woman and Paul was not strong in his faith still. After being married for ten years, Paul had an affair with his wife's best friend. This was the turning point in his life. His wife forgave him, she loved him so much that she forgave him. Paul had a huge reconing before the Lord and completely opened up to Him and to his wife and to therapists. He felt forgiveness and grace to the fullest. His relationship with Jesus transformed and he was re-born. The realization of everything that Jesus went through for us and for our sins was on display in Paul's life. Jesus promises us that there is nothing that we can do that we will not be forgiven for and Paul felt it. A year before Paul wrote The Shack, he declared bankruptcy. His wife encouraged him to write down his story and he wrote The Shack but no one would publish it so he published it himself. A year later, it was a best seller. Paul's life changed forever once he accepted God's grace and was re-born. When you speak with Paul, you know it too. He is the softest and kindest person I have ever met. You can see the sparkle in his eyes and his passion for the Lord. If anyone ever had a doubt of what the power of the Lord can do in a person's life, I would encourage them to contact Paul. He loves people and he explained over and over that he loves to share his story.