Week 2
Forward and Chapters 1-4

What do you perceive as the difference between Mack’s relationship and Nan’s relationship with God?
What is the difference between wide and deep in the description between the two relationships?
How do we go deeper in that relationship of ‘knowing’ Him?
What events have shaped your walk with God?

Do you believe that Mack has ever really experienced God’s perfect love?
Why or why not?

What kind of dad and husband was Mack? What do his prayers tell you about the kind of man he was?

The legend of Multnomah Falls: A princess sacrifices herself for her people. Sound similar to another story? How did the chief feel, and how does this compare to how God felt when sending Jesus to die for our sins?

“Do I have to jump off a cliff?” Will God ever ask us to jump off a cliff?

What are the obstacles that stand in our way of answering God’s call?

Mack instinctively jumped into that water to save his son. That was his focus. Tragically, that was when someone was watching and took the opportunity to abduct Missy. Can you foresee how Mack will internalize what happened? What about the brother and sister in the canoe? How will this affect them?

At some point in time all of us have been, or will be faced with an emergency, a crisis, a tragedy. Humanly speaking, our initial reactions are a combination of fear, anger, and confusion. We begin to blame ourselves, others, even God. Many times we question ‘why me’……

How do these reactions affect our relationship…..?
With God?
Our family?
Others involved in the crisis?
Our friends

We are faced with decisions, choices, and how we will react to a ‘crisis of belief’. How do we trust Him when the going gets tough? What steps do we take? How do we get through a crisis?

Romans 5:3-5
(NASV) And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;  and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;  and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

(The Message) There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit

(NIV) Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

(NLT) We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.