Relationship not religion

Recently I attended a conference where Paul Young, author of 'The Shack', spoke about the story behind the shack. First, let me say if you haven't read the book, I would encourage you to do so. I want to share with you some of what he shared because I was captivated with his journey of learning about what it means to be a Christian, or a follower of Christ...or whatever you would call it. That is, that God is a God of and in relationship, and is calling us to be in a relationship with Him (Father, Son and Spirit). That relationship is one of mutuality where we come to see ourselves as deeply loved. By virtue of being a Tri-une God (Trinity of Father, Son and Spirit), God achieves mutuality of relationship and by being and doing so, validates relationship and love. As Jesus lived and was fully human he was dependent on the relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus' cry on the cross 'My God, my God, why have your forsaken me - is our cry - he feels our pain and offers up our cries to the Father. He was not forsaken, but ended with a statement of trust in the Father when he commits his spirit. Most of our lives we may not sense the presence of the Father - it takes process, a journey of seeing ourselves in a loving relationship in which the the Holy Spirit is always with us with 'shameless non-condemnation'. Know that God is with you, His image is in you and you are a unique person that matters. That's why you have been invited into a relationship of love and trust with God the Father, Son and Spirit - to experience a mutuality of love.