Comments on: The Furious Longing of God by Brennan Manning http://viralbloggers.com/2009/04/the-furious-longing-of-god-by-brennan-manning/ Quality emerging church blog reviews all in one place. Wed, 28 Jul 2010 21:10:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: MC Wright http://viralbloggers.com/2009/04/the-furious-longing-of-god-by-brennan-manning/comment-page-1/#comment-333 MC Wright Wed, 09 Sep 2009 17:04:59 +0000 http://viralbloggers.com/?p=151#comment-333 MC Wright The manila package stared at me without giving away the cargo it carried. "Hmm, what has come today? I wondered." As soon as I pulled the compact volume of Brennan Manning's newest work from the package I felt a literal surge of gratitude in my soul. "It's here, it's here!" I have been excited to receive the latest compilation or passionate prose from Brennan for an Ooze review! (http://viralbloggers.com)(www.theooze.com) I have also had the privilege of inviting Brennan to spend a weekend with me and the church I pastor just outside of Seattle. He inspired, challenged, and helped us all to center on the person, work, and love of God through Jesus. As I began to pour through the pages, the words were not ancient mysteries newly unveiled, or some new angle on God's truth, but rather, I felt as though Brennan and I were sitting next to a fire, having a spiritual conversation about our journeys with Jesus. Brennan is at his passionate post as this writing centers on "union" which is the heartbeat of his book, "the furious longing of God." On page 65 Brennan writes: "Words such as union, fusion, and symbiosis hint at the ineffable oneness with Jesus that the apostle Paul experienced: "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (Gal. 2:20). No human word is even remotely adequate to convey the mysterious and furious longing of Jesus for you and me to live in His smile and hang on His words. But union comes close, very close; it is a word pregnant with a reality that surpasses understanding, the only reality worth yearning for with love and patience, the only reality before which we should stay very quiet. "Cease striving and know that I Am God." (Ps. 46:10) The book is not large, it yields 136 devotional pages. The book is not a new journey, rather it is a trusted reminder of what is true and worth engaging the pharisees of our day over. The book is not flashy, it is Brennan telling you stories interlaced with some insightful exegesis. If you have never read a book by Brennan before, pick this one up and you will get a glimpse of a man saved by grace who has allowed his wounds to become sacred by the healing touch of Jesus. If you have read books by Brennan, pick this one up, you will feel a refreshing wind reminding you that too often we create religions where Jesus simply says follow me. From the transformation of Aldonsa to Dulcinea in Don Quixote, to the message found in Shel Silversteins, "The Giving Tree," Brennan delivers the furious punch of divine grace over and over again. Perhaps Brennan best brings home the concept of union, symbiosis, fusion, or in the apostle John's term "abiding" on page 72: "The ordinary pablum of popular religion caters to the idealistic, perfectionistic, and neurotic self who fixates on graceless getting worthy for union, while allowing the prostitutes and tax gougers to dance into the kingdom. Our strategies of self-deception persude us that abiding restful union with Jesus is too costly, leaving no room for money, ambition, success, fame, sex, power, control, and pride of place or the fatal trap of self-rejection, thus prohibiting mediocre, disaffected dingbats and dirtballs, like myself, from intimacy with Jesus. Until we learn to live peacefully with what Andre Louf calls "our amazing degree of weakness," until we learn to live gracefully with what Alan Jones calls "our own extreme psychic frailty," until we let the Christ who consorted with hookers and crooks to be our truth, the false, fraudulent self motivated by cowardice and fear will continue to distance us from abiding restful union." Each chapter concludes with two thought provoking questions titled "Consider This..." I would encourage you to absorb the book and utilize these questions to allow the voice of Christ to speak to the deepest parts of your soul. In this way, "the furious longing of God" will be more than a reminder, and more than an intellectual diversion. It will ignite your faith in an environment where you know that you are loved by God, no matter what. So, if you are looking for something absolutely new and different from Brennan, this is not your book. But, if you long for a realignment of your soul to the heartbeat of the Father, Abba, as Brennan so powerfully relays...get this book. Dei Gratia, Monty MC Wright

The manila package stared at me without giving away the cargo it carried. “Hmm, what has come today? I wondered.” As soon as I pulled the compact volume of Brennan Manning’s newest work from the package I felt a literal surge of gratitude in my soul. “It’s here, it’s here!” I have been excited to receive the latest compilation or passionate prose from Brennan for an Ooze review! (http://viralbloggers.com)(www.theooze.com)

I have also had the privilege of inviting Brennan to spend a weekend with me and the church I pastor just outside of Seattle. He inspired, challenged, and helped us all to center on the person, work, and love of God through Jesus.

As I began to pour through the pages, the words were not ancient mysteries newly unveiled, or some new angle on God’s truth, but rather, I felt as though Brennan and I were sitting next to a fire, having a spiritual conversation about our journeys with Jesus.

Brennan is at his passionate post as this writing centers on “union” which is the heartbeat of his book, “the furious longing of God.” On page 65 Brennan writes:

“Words such as union, fusion, and symbiosis hint at the ineffable oneness with Jesus that the apostle Paul experienced: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal. 2:20). No human word is even remotely adequate to convey the mysterious and furious longing of Jesus for you and me to live in His smile and hang on His words. But union comes close, very close; it is a word pregnant with a reality that surpasses understanding, the only reality worth yearning for with love and patience, the only reality before which we should stay very quiet. “Cease striving and know that I Am God.” (Ps. 46:10)

The book is not large, it yields 136 devotional pages. The book is not a new journey, rather it is a trusted reminder of what is true and worth engaging the pharisees of our day over. The book is not flashy, it is Brennan telling you stories interlaced with some insightful exegesis.

If you have never read a book by Brennan before, pick this one up and you will get a glimpse of a man saved by grace who has allowed his wounds to become sacred by the healing touch of Jesus. If you have read books by Brennan, pick this one up, you will feel a refreshing wind reminding you that too often we create religions where Jesus simply says follow me.

From the transformation of Aldonsa to Dulcinea in Don Quixote, to the message found in Shel Silversteins, “The Giving Tree,” Brennan delivers the furious punch of divine grace over and over again.

Perhaps Brennan best brings home the concept of union, symbiosis, fusion, or in the apostle John’s term “abiding” on page 72:

“The ordinary pablum of popular religion caters to the idealistic, perfectionistic, and neurotic self who fixates on graceless getting worthy for union, while allowing the prostitutes and tax gougers to dance into the kingdom. Our strategies of self-deception persude us that abiding restful union with Jesus is too costly, leaving no room for money, ambition, success, fame, sex, power, control, and pride of place or the fatal trap of self-rejection, thus prohibiting mediocre, disaffected dingbats and dirtballs, like myself, from intimacy with Jesus. Until we learn to live peacefully with what Andre Louf calls “our amazing degree of weakness,” until we learn to live gracefully with what Alan Jones calls “our own extreme psychic frailty,” until we let the Christ who consorted with hookers and crooks to be our truth, the false, fraudulent self motivated by cowardice and fear will continue to distance us from abiding restful union.”

Each chapter concludes with two thought provoking questions titled “Consider This…” I would encourage you to absorb the book and utilize these questions to allow the voice of Christ to speak to the deepest parts of your soul. In this way, “the furious longing of God” will be more than a reminder, and more than an intellectual diversion. It will ignite your faith in an environment where you know that you are loved by God, no matter what.

So, if you are looking for something absolutely new and different from Brennan, this is not your book. But, if you long for a realignment of your soul to the heartbeat of the Father, Abba, as Brennan so powerfully relays…get this book.

Dei Gratia,

Monty

]]> By: jdblundell http://viralbloggers.com/2009/04/the-furious-longing-of-god-by-brennan-manning/comment-page-1/#comment-322 jdblundell Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:38:40 +0000 http://viralbloggers.com/?p=151#comment-322 thought I had already posted here... guess not :-( http://www.casadeblundell.com/jonathan/reflections/the-furious-longing-of-god/ I am my beloved’s and his desire is for me. (song of solomon 7:10) Imagine if this was you story… an alcoholic, Catholic, ex-Catholic, and then Catholic again, former priest, divorcee and a sinner saved by grace. What would you write about? I’d hope no matter how many stories you told and no matter how many books you wrote, you’d always go back to reminding folks about God’s Amazing Grace. It’s “the larger and more important story. Only God, in His fury, knows the whole of it.” Brennan Manning writes in his latest offering: In my forty-four years of ministry, the furious love of God has been the dominant theme of my life. I’ve varied with titles such as Ragamuffin Gospel, Abba’s Child and The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus, but they are all facets of the same gem: that the shattering truth of the transcendent God seeking intimacy with us is not well served by gauzy sentimentality, schmaltz, or a naked appeal to emotion, but rather in the boiling bouillabaisse of shock bordering on disbelief, wonder akin to incredulity, and the affectionate awe tinged by doubt. I’ve been surprised to read some of the reviews of Manning’s latest book, “The Furious Longing of God.” Many seem to think its a book just for the downtrodden, those with low self-esteem, those who need a pick-me-up. But I’m certain we all need reminders of God’s furious love for each of us – each and every day. We all need to be reminded that the living God is passionate and furious longing to have an intimate loving relationship with each of us. It’s no wonder that Jesus and Scripture often refer to the relationship between God and man as similar to the relationship between a groom and his bride. It’s a union. A union that “not only transcends every political, social, cultural and religious consideration and not only infuses them with ultimate meaning, but defines the very purpose of life itself.” We need to be reminded that not only does God have this furious longing for us, but also “for real sinners, thieves, adulterers and terrorists, for those caught up in squalid choices and failed dreams.” When we realize how passionate God is about us — and that that same passion extends to the far reaches of man-kind — how can we ever choose to ignore those around us? “The Kingdom of God is not a subdivision for the self-righteous or for those who lay claim to private visions of doubtful authenticity and boast they possess the state secret of their salvation. No, as Eugene Kennedy notes, “it is for a larger, homelier, and less self-conscious people who know they are sinners because they have experienced the yaw and pitch of moral struggle.” We can claim to be missional, loving Christians all day long, but until we put together the ideas that it is no longer us, but Christ living in us and that “the living acts of a Christian somehow become the living acts of Christ” alongside with the idea that God has a furious longing for each of us — we’re missing out on so much. “For His love is never, never, never based on our performance, never conditioned by our moods — of elation or depression. The furious love of God knows no shadow of alteration or change. It is reliable. And always tender.” And thus our love for others should be the same. We should have the same love for our spouses, our kids, our parents, our siblings, our extended family, our neighbors, our co-workers, those who are easy to love and those who are not so easy to love. The book itself is full of great examples of the deep, deep, reckless, fury that we call the love of God. I want you all to read it and want to pass my copy off to so many others – but selfishly I want to hold on to it and refer back to it over and over again. Say what you will about my “lack of self-worth” or my “need for affirmation” but I still need those daily reminders in my life — of the deep, deep love of God — not just for me — but for all mankind. thought I had already posted here… guess not :-(

http://www.casadeblundell.com/jonathan/reflections/the-furious-longing-of-god/

I am my beloved’s and his desire is for me.

(song of solomon 7:10)

Imagine if this was you story… an alcoholic, Catholic, ex-Catholic, and then Catholic again, former priest, divorcee and a sinner saved by grace.

What would you write about?

I’d hope no matter how many stories you told and no matter how many books you wrote, you’d always go back to reminding folks about God’s Amazing Grace. It’s “the larger and more important story. Only God, in His fury, knows the whole of it.”

Brennan Manning writes in his latest offering:

In my forty-four years of ministry, the furious love of God has been the dominant theme of my life. I’ve varied with titles such as Ragamuffin Gospel, Abba’s Child and The Relentless Tenderness of Jesus, but they are all facets of the same gem: that the shattering truth of the transcendent God seeking intimacy with us is not well served by gauzy sentimentality, schmaltz, or a naked appeal to emotion, but rather in the boiling bouillabaisse of shock bordering on disbelief, wonder akin to incredulity, and the affectionate awe tinged by doubt.

I’ve been surprised to read some of the reviews of Manning’s latest book, “The Furious Longing of God.” Many seem to think its a book just for the downtrodden, those with low self-esteem, those who need a pick-me-up. But I’m certain we all need reminders of God’s furious love for each of us – each and every day.

We all need to be reminded that the living God is passionate and furious longing to have an intimate loving relationship with each of us. It’s no wonder that Jesus and Scripture often refer to the relationship between God and man as similar to the relationship between a groom and his bride. It’s a union.

A union that “not only transcends every political, social, cultural and religious consideration and not only infuses them with ultimate meaning, but defines the very purpose of life itself.”

We need to be reminded that not only does God have this furious longing for us, but also “for real sinners, thieves, adulterers and terrorists, for those caught up in squalid choices and failed dreams.”

When we realize how passionate God is about us — and that that same passion extends to the far reaches of man-kind — how can we ever choose to ignore those around us?

“The Kingdom of God is not a subdivision for the self-righteous or for those who lay claim to private visions of doubtful authenticity and boast they possess the state secret of their salvation. No, as Eugene Kennedy notes, “it is for a larger, homelier, and less self-conscious people who know they are sinners because they have experienced the yaw and pitch of moral struggle.”

We can claim to be missional, loving Christians all day long, but until we put together the ideas that it is no longer us, but Christ living in us and that “the living acts of a Christian somehow become the living acts of Christ” alongside with the idea that God has a furious longing for each of us — we’re missing out on so much.

“For His love is never, never, never based on our performance, never conditioned by our moods — of elation or depression. The furious love of God knows no shadow of alteration or change. It is reliable. And always tender.”

And thus our love for others should be the same. We should have the same love for our spouses, our kids, our parents, our siblings, our extended family, our neighbors, our co-workers, those who are easy to love and those who are not so easy to love.

The book itself is full of great examples of the deep, deep, reckless, fury that we call the love of God. I want you all to read it and want to pass my copy off to so many others – but selfishly I want to hold on to it and refer back to it over and over again.

Say what you will about my “lack of self-worth” or my “need for affirmation” but I still need those daily reminders in my life — of the deep, deep love of God — not just for me — but for all mankind.

]]> By: pastorfredwolfe http://viralbloggers.com/2009/04/the-furious-longing-of-god-by-brennan-manning/comment-page-1/#comment-321 pastorfredwolfe Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:30:06 +0000 http://viralbloggers.com/?p=151#comment-321 In classic Brennen Manning style, threads of stories are masterfully woven together to form a patchwork mosaic describing the furious longing of God. Reading this book gave me an even greater desire to stalk this author for a year and become a voyeur into his passionate relationship with Christ. With chapter titles such as Fury, Boldness, Healing, Fire and Giving, each is short enough for a fifteen minute devotion, and the entire text can be read in one afternoon. Within this relatively short book are the jewels Brennen has become known for. You will cry for the once beautiful leper who uses her last words to change Manning's life, and the frumpy hippie college kid who's father changes everything. Brennen uses word to describe God that sometimes make me cringe, and I would never have the chutzpah to use them myself. He calls the love of God “folly”, and calls God Himself, “Divine Madman”. Throughout the book however, you get the feeling that Brennen has such an intense and personal relationship with Abba God, that it's OK for him. It's like a mystical inside joke just between the two of them. All in all, I highly recommend the reading and re-reading of this book. In classic Brennen Manning style, threads of stories are masterfully woven together to form a patchwork mosaic describing the furious longing of God. Reading this book gave me an even greater desire to stalk this author for a year and become a voyeur into his passionate relationship with Christ. With chapter titles such as Fury, Boldness, Healing, Fire and Giving, each is short enough for a fifteen minute devotion, and the entire text can be read in one afternoon. Within this relatively short book are the jewels Brennen has become known for. You will cry for the once beautiful leper who uses her last words to change Manning’s life, and the frumpy hippie college kid who’s father changes everything. Brennen uses word to describe God that sometimes make me cringe, and I would never have the chutzpah to use them myself. He calls the love of God “folly”, and calls God Himself, “Divine Madman”. Throughout the book however, you get the feeling that Brennen has such an intense and personal relationship with Abba God, that it’s OK for him. It’s like a mystical inside joke just between the two of them. All in all, I highly recommend the reading and re-reading of this book.

]]> By: pstrben http://viralbloggers.com/2009/04/the-furious-longing-of-god-by-brennan-manning/comment-page-1/#comment-285 pstrben Fri, 14 Aug 2009 23:25:49 +0000 http://viralbloggers.com/?p=151#comment-285 Wednesday, May 6, 2009 The Furious Longing of God From the introduction: I’m Brennan. I’m an alcoholic.How I got there, why I left there, why I went back, is thestory of my life.But it is not the whole story. I’m Brennan. I’m a Catholic. How I got there, why I left there, why I went back, is also thestory of my life. But it is not the whole story. I’m Brennan. I was a priest, but am no longer a priest. I was amarried man but am no longer a married man. How I got to those places, why I left those places, is the storyof my life too. But it is not the whole story. I’m Brennan. I’m a sinner, saved by grace.That is the larger and more important story.Only God, in His fury, knows the whole of it. Wow! What a way to start a book! This book is for everyone – everyone who wants to know that God loves them, that is. It’s great to read (and re-read) Brennan Manning’s books. They provide the much needed perspective that many churches and Christians are lacking in today’s culture – GRACE coupled with a deep and un-restricted LOVE! It’s amazing how much we allow the thoughts and expectations of others to cloud the knowledge that God loves us in a furious and un-stoppable way. I’m with Brennan (and many other authors) who call us to live a life that is worthy of the Love lavishly given to us. Brennan says (on page 119) that “we have all experienced the sadness of a Christian life that is secure, well regulated, but basically impoverished. We long, at least occasionally, for a generosity that would lift us above ourselves.” This book is another call to recognize the Love of God in our lives and to live that Love out in our everyday-ness. We no longer have to live a defeated life and the expectations and limitations placed on us by our society no longer have to contain the love that should (and will) overflow from our hearts as we experience the Furious Longing of God to LOVE us with an unreasonable love! Whew! What a reminder! Wednesday, May 6, 2009
The Furious Longing of God

From the introduction:
I’m Brennan. I’m an alcoholic.How I got there, why I left there, why I went back, is thestory of my life.But it is not the whole story.
I’m Brennan. I’m a Catholic. How I got there, why I left there, why I went back, is also thestory of my life. But it is not the whole story.
I’m Brennan. I was a priest, but am no longer a priest. I was amarried man but am no longer a married man. How I got to those places, why I left those places, is the storyof my life too. But it is not the whole story.
I’m Brennan. I’m a sinner, saved by grace.That is the larger and more important story.Only God, in His fury, knows the whole of it.

Wow! What a way to start a book! This book is for everyone – everyone who wants to know that God loves them, that is. It’s great to read (and re-read) Brennan Manning’s books. They provide the much needed perspective that many churches and Christians are lacking in today’s culture – GRACE coupled with a deep and un-restricted LOVE! It’s amazing how much we allow the thoughts and expectations of others to cloud the knowledge that God loves us in a furious and un-stoppable way.

I’m with Brennan (and many other authors) who call us to live a life that is worthy of the Love lavishly given to us. Brennan says (on page 119) that “we have all experienced the sadness of a Christian life that is secure, well regulated, but basically impoverished. We long, at least occasionally, for a generosity that would lift us above ourselves.” This book is another call to recognize the Love of God in our lives and to live that Love out in our everyday-ness.

We no longer have to live a defeated life and the expectations and limitations placed on us by our society no longer have to contain the love that should (and will) overflow from our hearts as we experience the Furious Longing of God to LOVE us with an unreasonable love!

Whew! What a reminder!

]]> By: remcc3 http://viralbloggers.com/2009/04/the-furious-longing-of-god-by-brennan-manning/comment-page-1/#comment-212 remcc3 Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:23:06 +0000 http://viralbloggers.com/?p=151#comment-212 Google the name “Brennan Manning” and websites will pop up warning of the sins of Brennan Manning. Caught in dry places, these sites correct our unorthodox tendencies and explain exactly why Brennan Manning and a host of other Christian authors are wrong. Dead wrong they would say. The Furious Longing of God will likely fire up a new round of diatribes from Christian haters incorporated. As Manning quotes Hans Van Bathasar, “Woe to the rich and to the doubly rich in spirit! Although nothing is impossible with God, it is difficult for the Spirit to move their fat hearts.” Manning does attempt to move fat hearts to a place where we see the Father with new eyes – the eyes of the child who finally gets it that the Father loves without pretense or pre-qualification. For those who have read The Ragamuffin Gospel and his other writings, this work is classic Manning . Although it sometimes lacks the fluidity of his earlier works, The Furious Longing of God in its simplicity still whispers encouragement to those wearied by placement theologies. There is no pretense here. Abba does not require a strategic improvement plan to accept us. Brennan Manning walks us down a familiar evangelical road and then using the Song of Songs as a guide, we step unto a delightful path of wonderment of the one who made us. And as we rest along this path we hear told again the love story of the Father who relentlessly pursues us. In familiar Manning style, the author transparently uncovers his own frailties and failures as part of a worthwhile premise to consider God’s love. No doubt there will be those who will continue to howl at his portrayal of God’s grace - In the words of an earlier critic who said, “Manning out Luthers Luther.” But the words of Manning do not cater “to the idealistic, perfectionistic and neurotic self who fixates on graceless getting worthy… while allowing the prostitutes and tax gougers to dance into the kingdom.” No, the words are meant for those of us weary from trying to prop up the kingdom by our own self-absorption . Those of us who can no longer justify the urge to jockey for a position that we think God finds favorable. And for those of us just tired. Yes, The Furious Longing for God is a love story for the broken hearted as the book jacket suggests. But it is also a Pharisees Anonymous meeting for those of us in recovery who need help staying on the wagon. God’s grace, indeed is sufficient. Google the name “Brennan Manning” and websites will pop up warning of the sins of Brennan Manning. Caught in dry places, these sites correct our unorthodox tendencies and explain exactly why Brennan Manning and a host of other Christian authors are wrong. Dead wrong they would say. The Furious Longing of God will likely fire up a new round of diatribes from Christian haters incorporated. As Manning quotes Hans Van Bathasar, “Woe to the rich and to the doubly rich in spirit! Although nothing is impossible with God, it is difficult for the Spirit to move their fat hearts.” Manning does attempt to move fat hearts to a place where we see the Father with new eyes – the eyes of the child who finally gets it that the Father loves without pretense or pre-qualification.
For those who have read The Ragamuffin Gospel and his other writings, this work is classic Manning . Although it sometimes lacks the fluidity of his earlier works, The Furious Longing of God in its simplicity still whispers encouragement to those wearied by placement theologies. There is no pretense here. Abba does not require a strategic improvement plan to accept us. Brennan Manning walks us down a familiar evangelical road and then using the Song of Songs as a guide, we step unto a delightful path of wonderment of the one who made us. And as we rest along this path we hear told again the love story of the Father who relentlessly pursues us.
In familiar Manning style, the author transparently uncovers his own frailties and failures as part of a worthwhile premise to consider God’s love. No doubt there will be those who will continue to howl at his portrayal of God’s grace – In the words of an earlier critic who said, “Manning out Luthers Luther.” But the words of Manning do not cater “to the idealistic, perfectionistic and neurotic self who fixates on graceless getting worthy… while allowing the prostitutes and tax gougers to dance into the kingdom.” No, the words are meant for those of us weary from trying to prop up the kingdom by our own self-absorption . Those of us who can no longer justify the urge to jockey for a position that we think God finds favorable. And for those of us just tired. Yes, The Furious Longing for God is a love story for the broken hearted as the book jacket suggests. But it is also a Pharisees Anonymous meeting for those of us in recovery who need help staying on the wagon. God’s grace, indeed is sufficient.

]]> By: yeti http://viralbloggers.com/2009/04/the-furious-longing-of-god-by-brennan-manning/comment-page-1/#comment-196 yeti Sun, 21 Jun 2009 05:51:13 +0000 http://viralbloggers.com/?p=151#comment-196 I just read “The Furious Longing of Love” by Brennan Manning. It is not Manning’s most original piece of work, but your heart will be deeply moved and your life enriched. If you have read “Abba’s Child” you will find many similar concepts contained within this book. However, Manning has done a masterful job of condensing his ideas and concepts down into bite size pieces here that make the book possible (and even tempting) to read in one sitting. The book is applicable to you wherever you are in your relationship with God. I frequently need to be reminded of how furiously the Father loves me – I don’t often think I deserve such love. I recommend you pick this book up! [[3 out of 5 stars]] I just read “The Furious Longing of Love” by Brennan Manning. It is not Manning’s most original piece of work, but your heart will be deeply moved and your life enriched. If you have read “Abba’s Child” you will find many similar concepts contained within this book. However, Manning has done a masterful job of condensing his ideas and concepts down into bite size pieces here that make the book possible (and even tempting) to read in one sitting. The book is applicable to you wherever you are in your relationship with God. I frequently need to be reminded of how furiously the Father loves me – I don’t often think I deserve such love. I recommend you pick this book up! [[3 out of 5 stars]]

]]> By: Kevin_Ring http://viralbloggers.com/2009/04/the-furious-longing-of-god-by-brennan-manning/comment-page-1/#comment-186 Kevin_Ring Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:41:57 +0000 http://viralbloggers.com/?p=151#comment-186 Original post at: <a href="http://www.kingdomstrategist.com/2009/06/book-review-the-furious-longing-of-god-by-brennan-manning/" rel="nofollow">http://www.kingdomstrategist.com/2009/06/book-review-the-furious-longing-of-god-by-brennan-manning/</a> “You will live with an awareness that the Father not only loves you, but likes you.” –Brennan Manning The beauty of Brennan Manning’s books is the vividness and the intensity with which he presents his message. And that message is the simple yet profound truth that our God, the Supreme Being, loves us. Loves you. Loves me. Well, duh. Right? You’re probably thinking, “I know God loves me; I don’t need to a book to tell me that!” I disagree. I think we need to hear this message over and over and over again. And there are a number of reasons. The point <i>First</i> - Christianity as it is taught in a number of churches gets this but doesn’t necessarily get this right. God’s love for his creation is a core tenet of Judeo-Christian teaching. Yet a good portion of Christians have glossed over the importance of this fact and in doing so have made the Gospel about something other than God’s redemption and restoration of a people (whom He loves) to his Kingdom. Without an understanding that: …what God has done in creation, …what He has done through the Old Testament, …what He has done through Christ’s life, death, resurrection, and ascension, …what He continues to do through His church, …all of history!!! ALL starts with the fact that GOD LOVES PERFECTLY and WE are the OBJECT of that LOVE. - devoid of this truth, Christians reduce God to what Manning calls “a small-minded bookkeeper”, “a policeman with a club”, or “a whimsical… thief who delights in raining on our parade.” <i>Second</i> - not everyone gets this. The idea of a God that is both transcendent and immanent, just and merciful is revolutionary. Let alone a God that is personal and that is loving. Manning points out that the fact that God condescended and entered into human history demolishes “all previous conceptions of who God is and what man is supposed to be.” This is the power and attraction of Christ, that he became man, made himself nothing so that we would be made right with God. It is through this act that God grants us forgiveness. It is through this act that God’s demand for justice is filled. It is through this act that we are humbled and sin’s power over us is broken. Only grace bends the knee of the powerful and the weak alike. Christ’s ultimate act of love for us and trust in the Father is the power through which we are made a new creation and secure everlasting fellowship with our Creator. The Father’s love is the promise of life everlasting. The Father’s love is what we put our faith in. The Father’s love is the power for transformation. The Father’s love is the light that shines throughout this dark earth. <i>Third</i> - no human loves as perfectly as God does. We are still marred by sin, living in an imperfect world. Our best efforts at love fall incredibly short of the love that Manning dedicates this book to. Compared to the “furious longing of God”, our love is weak, empty and far from perfect. I am constantly reminded of this as a father as the love I have for my two children, although it is far greater than any love I have ever experienced before, a love that assures me of my willingness to sacrifice even my life for my children, this love has it’s boundaries. When I find myself being impatient with my children or fed up at any minor thing, I think about God. I think about how patient he is with me. I think about what it would be like to know every single thing that my children would do wrong in their lives before they were even born. How would I react? Would I love them less? And it is in these times that I am amazed at how perfect God’s love for me is. This is why I read and reread Brennan Manning’s books. Because if I understand God’s love framed by my own capacity and capability at love, then I run the risk of my faith being seriously constrained by complacency. My own ability of love is not revolutionary. It is devoid of all power and it will ultimately fail me, leave me empty and withered. We should all dedicate our lives to seeking a better understanding of God’s love, striving for purer experiences of God’s love, and endeavoring to live out God’s love more and more. The Furious Longing of God is a good place to start. What to expect from the book The book is short (144 pages). Each chapter presents either 1) describes a different aspect of God’s love for us; 2) discusses the implications both personally and for the church; 3) celebrates God’s love through anecdotes, prayer, or quotes from other writers; or 4) gives a brief glimpse into Manning’s past through which he paints a compelling picture for both sinner and saint alike (Manning is both a recovering alcoholic and priest… he makes no distinction between the extent of his depravity in both periods of his life). Manning’s writing style is very poetic. There were a few sections of this book that felt extravagant, as though he was striving to craft each sentence perfectly and ended up using strings of words that left me feeling dizzy and unsure exactly what he was trying to say. That being said, part of Manning’s power as the deliverer of this message is his ability to elicit emotion responses to what he puts forth. And given just how amazing the message is, I am more than willing to let his words wash over me, sinking deep and resonating deep within my heart. The things that Manning says always just “feel” true. And for that I am grateful. Implications for a Kingdom Strategist The truth that Brennan Manning tells in The Furious Longing of God is central to the work of every Kingdom Strategist and all servants of the Gospel. As Paul says in Ephesians 3:17 “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.“ Our unique perspective on Kingdom issues and ability to see where the church is headed depends on our being “rooted and established” in God’s love. For it is only from within the security of God’s profound, world-changing love that we are able to “make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery.” (Eph. 3:9) For unlike traditional strategists, we do not creating Kingdom strategies. Our King has done that, he has laid the paths. Our job is to lead others to those paths. We are God’s servants and it is by His grace alone that we are able to serve. The strategies we build MUST flow from a center in Christ’s love. Or they are not Kingdom strategies. “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” (1 Cor. 13:2) Brennan Manning says it like this on page 125 in his chapter “Giving”" <blockquote>The gospel is absurd and the life of Jesus is meaningless unless we believe that He lived, died, and rose again with but one purpose in mind: to make brand-new creations. Not to make people with better morals, but to create a community of prophets and professional lovers, men and women who would surrender to the mystery of the fire of the Spirit that burns within, who would live in ever greater fidelity to the omnipresent Word of God, who would enter into the center of it all, the very heart and mystery of Christ, into the center of the flame that consumers, purifies, and sets everything aglow with peace, joy, boldness, and extravagant, furious love. This, my friends, is what it really means to be a Christian. Our religion never begins with what we do for God. It always starts with what God has done for us, the great and wondrous things that God dreamed of and achieved for us in Christ Jesus.</blockquote> Original post at:
http://www.kingdomstrategist.com/2009/06/book-review-the-furious-longing-of-god-by-brennan-manning/

“You will live with an awareness that the Father not only loves you, but likes you.” –Brennan Manning

The beauty of Brennan Manning’s books is the vividness and the intensity with which he presents his message. And that message is the simple yet profound truth that our God, the Supreme Being, loves us. Loves you. Loves me.

Well, duh. Right? You’re probably thinking, “I know God loves me; I don’t need to a book to tell me that!”

I disagree. I think we need to hear this message over and over and over again. And there are a number of reasons.

The point
First – Christianity as it is taught in a number of churches gets this but doesn’t necessarily get this right.

God’s love for his creation is a core tenet of Judeo-Christian teaching. Yet a good portion of Christians have glossed over the importance of this fact and in doing so have made the Gospel about something other than God’s redemption and restoration of a people (whom He loves) to his Kingdom. Without an understanding that:

…what God has done in creation,
…what He has done through the Old Testament,
…what He has done through Christ’s life, death, resurrection, and ascension,
…what He continues to do through His church,
…all of history!!!

ALL starts with the fact that GOD LOVES PERFECTLY and WE are the OBJECT of that LOVE.

- devoid of this truth, Christians reduce God to what Manning calls “a small-minded bookkeeper”, “a policeman with a club”, or “a whimsical… thief who delights in raining on our parade.”

Second – not everyone gets this.

The idea of a God that is both transcendent and immanent, just and merciful is revolutionary. Let alone a God that is personal and that is loving. Manning points out that the fact that God condescended and entered into human history demolishes “all previous conceptions of who God is and what man is supposed to be.” This is the power and attraction of Christ, that he became man, made himself nothing so that we would be made right with God. It is through this act that God grants us forgiveness.

It is through this act that God’s demand for justice is filled. It is through this act that we are humbled and sin’s power over us is broken. Only grace bends the knee of the powerful and the weak alike. Christ’s ultimate act of love for us and trust in the Father is the power through which we are made a new creation and secure everlasting fellowship with our Creator. The Father’s love is the promise of life everlasting. The Father’s love is what we put our faith in. The Father’s love is the power for transformation. The Father’s love is the light that shines throughout this dark earth.

Third – no human loves as perfectly as God does.

We are still marred by sin, living in an imperfect world. Our best efforts at love fall incredibly short of the love that Manning dedicates this book to. Compared to the “furious longing of God”, our love is weak, empty and far from perfect.

I am constantly reminded of this as a father as the love I have for my two children, although it is far greater than any love I have ever experienced before, a love that assures me of my willingness to sacrifice even my life for my children, this love has it’s boundaries. When I find myself being impatient with my children or fed up at any minor thing, I think about God. I think about how patient he is with me. I think about what it would be like to know every single thing that my children would do wrong in their lives before they were even born. How would I react? Would I love them less? And it is in these times that I am amazed at how perfect God’s love for me is.

This is why I read and reread Brennan Manning’s books. Because if I understand God’s love framed by my own capacity and capability at love, then I run the risk of my faith being seriously constrained by complacency. My own ability of love is not revolutionary. It is devoid of all power and it will ultimately fail me, leave me empty and withered. We should all dedicate our lives to seeking a better understanding of God’s love, striving for purer experiences of God’s love, and endeavoring to live out God’s love more and more. The Furious Longing of God is a good place to start.

What to expect from the book

The book is short (144 pages). Each chapter presents either 1) describes a different aspect of God’s love for us; 2) discusses the implications both personally and for the church; 3) celebrates God’s love through anecdotes, prayer, or quotes from other writers; or 4) gives a brief glimpse into Manning’s past through which he paints a compelling picture for both sinner and saint alike (Manning is both a recovering alcoholic and priest… he makes no distinction between the extent of his depravity in both periods of his life).

Manning’s writing style is very poetic. There were a few sections of this book that felt extravagant, as though he was striving to craft each sentence perfectly and ended up using strings of words that left me feeling dizzy and unsure exactly what he was trying to say. That being said, part of Manning’s power as the deliverer of this message is his ability to elicit emotion responses to what he puts forth. And given just how amazing the message is, I am more than willing to let his words wash over me, sinking deep and resonating deep within my heart. The things that Manning says always just “feel” true. And for that I am grateful.

Implications for a Kingdom Strategist

The truth that Brennan Manning tells in The Furious Longing of God is central to the work of every Kingdom Strategist and all servants of the Gospel. As Paul says in Ephesians 3:17

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.“

Our unique perspective on Kingdom issues and ability to see where the church is headed depends on our being “rooted and established” in God’s love. For it is only from within the security of God’s profound, world-changing love that we are able to “make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery.” (Eph. 3:9)

For unlike traditional strategists, we do not creating Kingdom strategies. Our King has done that, he has laid the paths. Our job is to lead others to those paths. We are God’s servants and it is by His grace alone that we are able to serve. The strategies we build MUST flow from a center in Christ’s love. Or they are not Kingdom strategies. “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.” (1 Cor. 13:2)

Brennan Manning says it like this on page 125 in his chapter “Giving””

The gospel is absurd and the life of Jesus is meaningless unless we believe that He lived, died, and rose again with but one purpose in mind: to make brand-new creations. Not to make people with better morals, but to create a community of prophets and professional lovers, men and women who would surrender to the mystery of the fire of the Spirit that burns within, who would live in ever greater fidelity to the omnipresent Word of God, who would enter into the center of it all, the very heart and mystery of Christ, into the center of the flame that consumers, purifies, and sets everything aglow with peace, joy, boldness, and extravagant, furious love. This, my friends, is what it really means to be a Christian. Our religion never begins with what we do for God. It always starts with what God has done for us, the great and wondrous things that God dreamed of and achieved for us in Christ Jesus.

]]> By: wilddreamergrl http://viralbloggers.com/2009/04/the-furious-longing-of-god-by-brennan-manning/comment-page-1/#comment-166 wilddreamergrl Thu, 04 Jun 2009 13:57:06 +0000 http://viralbloggers.com/?p=151#comment-166 Originally blogged at: http://livewithdesire.com/home/2009/6/3/book-review-the-furious-longing-of-god.html Brennan Manning is a personal friend of my childhood pastor, and he spoke once at our church when I was about 12. I remember thinking he was really weird. *wry grin* Years later I read his "Ragamuffin Gospel" and wept....the insight he has into the love of God for us is unparalleled. Thus, I was truly excited to read this book with such a great title - "The Furious Longing of God" - I love that. That God - the God of the universe - would long for us furiously - tough to wrap my brain around, but somehow comforting at the same time. The phrase itself is taken from G.K. Chesterton, referencing "the enormous vitality and strength of the God of Jesus seeking union with us." The book is basically a series of meditations on the many facets of God's love for us, each one ending with "Consider This" - a question or two to spur on further thinking (and sometimes feeling) about God's love for us. One of the meditations that jumped out to me the most was that of "Union". Perhaps because I've always been drawn to the writings of mystics such as St John of the Cross or Teresa of Avila who spoke of mysterious union with Christ, I loved how Manning wrote about it: Words such as union, fusion, and symbiosis hint at the ineffable oneness with Jesus that the apostle Paul experienced: "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (Gal 2:20). No human word is even remotely adequate to convey the mysterious and furious longing of Jesus for you and me to live in His smile and hang on His words. But union comes very close; it is a word pregnant with a reality that surpasses understanding, the only reality worth yearning for with love and patience, the only reality before which we should stay very quiet. (p. 65) He speaks also of the "neurotic self who fixates on graceless getting worthy for union" and how we must "let the Christ who consorted with hookers and crooks be our truth" or else "the false, fraudulent self motivated by cowardice and fear will continue to distance us from abiding union." (p. 72.) I've been in that place - that place of being the neurotic self who tries desperately to be worthy of union with God. Manning reminds us - you can't. You can't be worthy. But you can accept the love of the God who, through Christ, was friends with the lowliest, the outcasts of society. I loved too his meditation on healing. That love is healing, and Christ has called us first and foremost to love one another. He writes of a time when he was speaking to a gathering of the Navigators: Instead of being identified as a community that memorizes Scripture, why not be identified as a community of proessional lovers that causes people to say 'How they love one another!'(p. 89.) What a challenge. I think the answer to his "why not" is because, frankly, it's easier to be a theologian than it is to be a lover who is living in the love of God and then giving it freely to others. He ties this in later with his meditation on giving, which really sums up the whole book: How is it then that we've come to imagine that Christianity consists primarily in what we do for God? How has this come to be the good news of Jesus? Is the kingdom that He proclaimed to be nothing more than a community of men and women who go to church on Sunday, take an annual spiritual retreat, read their Bibles every now and then, vigorously oppose abortion, don't watch x-rated movies, never use vulgar language, smile a lot, hold doors open for people, root for the favorite team, and get along with everybody? Is that why Jesus went through the bleak and bloody horror of Calvary? Is that why He emerged in shattering glory from the tomb? Is that why He poured out His Holy Spirit on the church? To make nicer men and women with better morals? The gospel is absurd and the life of Jesus is meaningless unless we believe that he lived, died, and rose again with but one purpose in mind: to make brand new creations. Not to make people with better morals, but to create a community of prophets and professional lovers, men and women who would surrender to the mystery of the fire of the Spirit that burns within, who would live in ever greater fidelity to the omnpresent Word of God, who would enter into the center of it all, the very heart and mystery of Christ, into the center of the flame that consumes, purifies, and sets everything aglow with peace, joy, boldness, and extravagent, furious love. This, my friends, is what it really means to be a Christian. Our religion never begins with what we do for God. It always starts with what God has done for us, the great and wondrous things that God dreamed of and achieved for us in Christ Jesus. (p. 124-126.) If you want a book to draw you deeper into the depths of God's love for you, if you want to be reminded of what it's all about - read this book. It's short, but deep; prayerlike in the way it's written, a book to read again and again and let the words go deep within our spirits. Originally blogged at:

http://livewithdesire.com/home/2009/6/3/book-review-the-furious-longing-of-god.html

Brennan Manning is a personal friend of my childhood pastor, and he spoke once at our church when I was about 12. I remember thinking he was really weird. *wry grin* Years later I read his “Ragamuffin Gospel” and wept….the insight he has into the love of God for us is unparalleled. Thus, I was truly excited to read this book with such a great title – “The Furious Longing of God” – I love that. That God – the God of the universe – would long for us furiously – tough to wrap my brain around, but somehow comforting at the same time. The phrase itself is taken from G.K. Chesterton, referencing “the enormous vitality and strength of the God of Jesus seeking union with us.”

The book is basically a series of meditations on the many facets of God’s love for us, each one ending with “Consider This” – a question or two to spur on further thinking (and sometimes feeling) about God’s love for us.

One of the meditations that jumped out to me the most was that of “Union”. Perhaps because I’ve always been drawn to the writings of mystics such as St John of the Cross or Teresa of Avila who spoke of mysterious union with Christ, I loved how Manning wrote about it:

Words such as union, fusion, and symbiosis hint at the ineffable oneness with Jesus that the apostle Paul experienced: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me” (Gal 2:20). No human word is even remotely adequate to convey the mysterious and furious longing of Jesus for you and me to live in His smile and hang on His words. But union comes very close; it is a word pregnant with a reality that surpasses understanding, the only reality worth yearning for with love and patience, the only reality before which we should stay very quiet. (p. 65)

He speaks also of the “neurotic self who fixates on graceless getting worthy for union” and how we must “let the Christ who consorted with hookers and crooks be our truth” or else “the false, fraudulent self motivated by cowardice and fear will continue to distance us from abiding union.” (p. 72.)

I’ve been in that place – that place of being the neurotic self who tries desperately to be worthy of union with God. Manning reminds us – you can’t. You can’t be worthy. But you can accept the love of the God who, through Christ, was friends with the lowliest, the outcasts of society.

I loved too his meditation on healing. That love is healing, and Christ has called us first and foremost to love one another. He writes of a time when he was speaking to a gathering of the Navigators:

Instead of being identified as a community that memorizes Scripture, why not be identified as a community of proessional lovers that causes people to say ‘How they love one another!’(p. 89.)

What a challenge. I think the answer to his “why not” is because, frankly, it’s easier to be a theologian than it is to be a lover who is living in the love of God and then giving it freely to others. He ties this in later with his meditation on giving, which really sums up the whole book:

How is it then that we’ve come to imagine that Christianity consists primarily in what we do for God? How has this come to be the good news of Jesus? Is the kingdom that He proclaimed to be nothing more than a community of men and women who go to church on Sunday, take an annual spiritual retreat, read their Bibles every now and then, vigorously oppose abortion, don’t watch x-rated movies, never use vulgar language, smile a lot, hold doors open for people, root for the favorite team, and get along with everybody? Is that why Jesus went through the bleak and bloody horror of Calvary? Is that why He emerged in shattering glory from the tomb? Is that why He poured out His Holy Spirit on the church? To make nicer men and women with better morals?

The gospel is absurd and the life of Jesus is meaningless unless we believe that he lived, died, and rose again with but one purpose in mind: to make brand new creations. Not to make people with better morals, but to create a community of prophets and professional lovers, men and women who would surrender to the mystery of the fire of the Spirit that burns within, who would live in ever greater fidelity to the omnpresent Word of God, who would enter into the center of it all, the very heart and mystery of Christ, into the center of the flame that consumes, purifies, and sets everything aglow with peace, joy, boldness, and extravagent, furious love. This, my friends, is what it really means to be a Christian. Our religion never begins with what we do for God. It always starts with what God has done for us, the great and wondrous things that God dreamed of and achieved for us in Christ Jesus. (p. 124-126.)

If you want a book to draw you deeper into the depths of God’s love for you, if you want to be reminded of what it’s all about – read this book. It’s short, but deep; prayerlike in the way it’s written, a book to read again and again and let the words go deep within our spirits.

]]> By: Jamie http://viralbloggers.com/2009/04/the-furious-longing-of-god-by-brennan-manning/comment-page-1/#comment-161 Jamie Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:30:33 +0000 http://viralbloggers.com/?p=151#comment-161 I was at a retreat in College when I heard the speaker say something that has stuck with me. He said, “Always read books about grace.” He was underlying the importance of this subject and since then I’ve read and reread books about Grace. It has become a discipline for me; a way of keeping that path open and the revelation of God’s affections towards me alive. And for me, one of the main guides has been Brennan Manning. If you have read any of Manning’s works then you will know that all of his books say the same thing in different ways. God loves us. God loves us right now, not as we should be, but as we are. Now. This new work is no different. And it’s just as beautiful and life giving as ever. I have been challenged with the thought of not reading widely, but deeply. Rather than conceptually being introduced to many different truths at a surface level, I want to dwell on and be transformed by the essential truths about God and life in his kingdom. God’s grace and his love for us is a revelation we must dwell upon and remember, and it is from this revelation that I believe we must live our lives. The book is fairly short with about 140 pages with short chapters that serve as small meditations on God’s very deep love. I highly recommend it. http://thinkingaboutitall.wordpress.com/2009/06/03/the-furious-longing-of-god-book-review/ I was at a retreat in College when I heard the speaker say something that has stuck with me. He said, “Always read books about grace.” He was underlying the importance of this subject and since then I’ve read and reread books about Grace. It has become a discipline for me; a way of keeping that path open and the revelation of God’s affections towards me alive. And for me, one of the main guides has been Brennan Manning.
If you have read any of Manning’s works then you will know that all of his books say the same thing in different ways. God loves us. God loves us right now, not as we should be, but as we are. Now. This new work is no different. And it’s just as beautiful and life giving as ever. I have been challenged with the thought of not reading widely, but deeply. Rather than conceptually being introduced to many different truths at a surface level, I want to dwell on and be transformed by the essential truths about God and life in his kingdom. God’s grace and his love for us is a revelation we must dwell upon and remember, and it is from this revelation that I believe we must live our lives.
The book is fairly short with about 140 pages with short chapters that serve as small meditations on God’s very deep love. I highly recommend it.

http://thinkingaboutitall.wordpress.com/2009/06/03/the-furious-longing-of-god-book-review/

]]> By: admin http://viralbloggers.com/2009/04/the-furious-longing-of-god-by-brennan-manning/comment-page-1/#comment-158 admin Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:23:46 +0000 http://viralbloggers.com/?p=151#comment-158 This was a great book This was a great book

]]> By: rahijada http://viralbloggers.com/2009/04/the-furious-longing-of-god-by-brennan-manning/comment-page-1/#comment-154 rahijada Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:49:49 +0000 http://viralbloggers.com/?p=151#comment-154 In today's world the world "love" gets tossed around so much it has lost much of it's meaning. I've been saying "I Love You" since I was a kid, I loved my parents, my siblings, my childhood girlfriend, etc... But did I really know what love was? Let's take that a step further, often in the church or christian circles we talk about "Unconditional Love", but what human really knows about unconditional love? We as humans can't love without condition, we want to think we can love unconditionally, but can we really? Jesus commands us to love, and despirt our shortfallings it is still what we are called to do. Brennan Manning exposes God's love for us through stories, scripture, and thought. There was hardly a page in this book that I didn't have tears running down my cheeks in response to the love that God has for me. Regardless of who I am, what I've done, or what I'm doing, God continues to furiously long for me. I heard a definition of Unconditional Love once, it means to love, expecting nothing in return. http://rahijada.blogspot.com/2009/06/furious-longing-of-god.html In today’s world the world “love” gets tossed around so much it has lost much of it’s meaning. I’ve been saying “I Love You” since I was a kid, I loved my parents, my siblings, my childhood girlfriend, etc… But did I really know what love was? Let’s take that a step further, often in the church or christian circles we talk about “Unconditional Love”, but what human really knows about unconditional love? We as humans can’t love without condition, we want to think we can love unconditionally, but can we really?

Jesus commands us to love, and despirt our shortfallings it is still what we are called to do. Brennan Manning exposes God’s love for us through stories, scripture, and thought. There was hardly a page in this book that I didn’t have tears running down my cheeks in response to the love that God has for me. Regardless of who I am, what I’ve done, or what I’m doing, God continues to furiously long for me. I heard a definition of Unconditional Love once, it means to love, expecting nothing in return.

http://rahijada.blogspot.com/2009/06/furious-longing-of-god.html

]]> By: smh00a http://viralbloggers.com/2009/04/the-furious-longing-of-god-by-brennan-manning/comment-page-1/#comment-144 smh00a Sat, 30 May 2009 14:46:44 +0000 http://viralbloggers.com/?p=151#comment-144 Why should Christian radicals – ordinary and otherwise – read Brennan Manning’s books? Because if we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll admit that many days, our principal efforts lie in one or two good but ultimately idolatrous pursuits: ministry (doing good things for God) or community. Spurred on by the deficit of practical action we’ve seen in our parents’ church, we work tirelessly for any number of worthwhile social causes and busy ourselves with the task of turning our failing neighborhoods around. And rejecting the one-stop-shopping of consumer Christianity and faux community of mega-churchdom, we start our neomonastic communities and house churches, and it’s a full-time job just to keep all the plates spinning. (and everyone happy) We need to read Brennan Manning — a former Franciscan priest and self-described ragamuffin — because, while affirming both community and action, he calls us back to that which is the universe’s lone life source: intimacy with God. In Manning’s latest release, The Furious Longing of God, he reminds us that ours is not an egotistical deity who sits back and smugly fields the praise of indebted subjects, but one who chases after creation with a fury unlike the universe has ever seen. Manning continues the project he began in the immensely popular The Ragamuffin Gospel almost 10 years ago, a book that described humanity as poor and needy – yet loved by God nevertheless. Furious serves as a brief (138 pages) yet meaning-packed manifesto for ragamuffins like the former alcoholic who has, without a doubt, experienced the divine love about which he writes. The wild, unrestricted love of God is not simply an inspiring idea. When it imposes itself on the mind and heart with the stark reality of ontological truth, it determines why and at what time you get up in the morning, how you pass your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, and who you hang with; it affects what breaks your heart, what amazes you, and what makes your heart happy. That’s the thing about Manning: You believe every word he writes. Perhaps no other Christian author writes with such transparency and yet infuses it with a passion that drips from every page. His book reads like a fresh systematic theology for a lukewarm Bride, though the trappings of typical theology are nowhere to be found. The book’s concise chapters allow readers to work through it in just a few readings, and the infrequence of Christian jargon makes it accessible to almost anyone. He begins by describing the beauty and mystery of God’s longing for the created order, and continues by diagnosing our propensity to create gods that are quite different from the God of the Bible. And in subsequent chapters about prayer, self-reflection, love for the other, healing, boldness before God, the imitation of Christ, and mission, Manning weaves together a beautiful tapestry of a life that authentically responds to the furious love God has for us. I loved the following quote from a chapter titled “giving,” in which Manning recalls Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree, a story about the relationship a boy has with a life-giving tree and his return to that tree in old age after leaving it for the pleasures of the world: "Ever since hearing that story many years ago, I’ve loved Silverstein’s parable. It reminds me of Jesus, of whom Paul wrote in Philippians, “He emptied himself.” He cried from His heart, nails in his hands, and poured out His blood that we might believe His love for us. Significantly, Jesus chose the giving tree, His cross, as the demonstrative sign of His absolutely furious love for men and women. In the words of one early church father: “the mightiest act of love ever to arise from a human soul.” "How is it that we’ve come to imagine that Christianity consists primarily in what we do for God? How has this come to be the good news of Jesus? Is the kingdom that He proclaimed to be nothing more than a community of men and women who go to church on Sunday, take an annual spiritual retreat, read their Bibles every now and then, vigorously oppose abortion, don’t watch x-rated movies, never use vulgar language, smile a lot, hold doors open for people, root for the favorite team, and get along with everybody? Is this why Jesus went through the bleak and bloody horror of Calvary? Is that why He emerged in shattering glory from the tomb? Is that why He poured out His Holy Spirit on the church? To make nicer men and women with better morals?" Manning goes on to describe that which Christ did come to make: " …a community of prophets and professional lovers, men and women who would surrender to the mystery of the fire of the Spirit that burns within, who would live in ever greater fidelity to the omnipresent Word of God, who would enter into the center of it all, the very heart and mystery of Christ, into the center of the flame that consumes, purifies, and sets everything aglow with peace, joy, boldness, and extravagant, furious love." Yes, we radical, out-of-the-mainstream followers of Jesus would do well to listen to our elder brother, Brennan Manning. He is a prophet and activist himself who is calling us to rediscover – and rest in – the all-encompassing love of God. The best ministry action and community life cannot sustain us through the fire, and indeed may break us. Only the abiding presence of our mysterious Lord, who pursues us furiously, can. Action and community are not rendered irrelevant by — but perfected in — the love of God. Posted at JesusManifesto.com by Steve Holt Link: http://www.jesusmanifesto.com/2009/05/radicals-resting-in-god%E2%80%99s-fury-brennan-manning%E2%80%99s-the-furious-longing-of-god/ Why should Christian radicals – ordinary and otherwise – read Brennan Manning’s books?

Because if we’re honest with ourselves, we’ll admit that many days, our principal efforts lie in one or two good but ultimately idolatrous pursuits: ministry (doing good things for God) or community. Spurred on by the deficit of practical action we’ve seen in our parents’ church, we work tirelessly for any number of worthwhile social causes and busy ourselves with the task of turning our failing neighborhoods around. And rejecting the one-stop-shopping of consumer Christianity and faux community of mega-churchdom, we start our neomonastic communities and house churches, and it’s a full-time job just to keep all the plates spinning. (and everyone happy)

We need to read Brennan Manning — a former Franciscan priest and self-described ragamuffin — because, while affirming both community and action, he calls us back to that which is the universe’s lone life source: intimacy with God. In Manning’s latest release, The Furious Longing of God, he reminds us that ours is not an egotistical deity who sits back and smugly fields the praise of indebted subjects, but one who chases after creation with a fury unlike the universe has ever seen.

Manning continues the project he began in the immensely popular The Ragamuffin Gospel almost 10 years ago, a book that described humanity as poor and needy – yet loved by God nevertheless. Furious serves as a brief (138 pages) yet meaning-packed manifesto for ragamuffins like the former alcoholic who has, without a doubt, experienced the divine love about which he writes.

The wild, unrestricted love of God is not simply an inspiring idea. When it imposes itself on the mind and heart with the stark reality of ontological truth, it determines why and at what time you get up in the morning, how you pass your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, and who you hang with; it affects what breaks your heart, what amazes you, and what makes your heart happy.

That’s the thing about Manning: You believe every word he writes. Perhaps no other Christian author writes with such transparency and yet infuses it with a passion that drips from every page. His book reads like a fresh systematic theology for a lukewarm Bride, though the trappings of typical theology are nowhere to be found.

The book’s concise chapters allow readers to work through it in just a few readings, and the infrequence of Christian jargon makes it accessible to almost anyone. He begins by describing the beauty and mystery of God’s longing for the created order, and continues by diagnosing our propensity to create gods that are quite different from the God of the Bible. And in subsequent chapters about prayer, self-reflection, love for the other, healing, boldness before God, the imitation of Christ, and mission, Manning weaves together a beautiful tapestry of a life that authentically responds to the furious love God has for us.

I loved the following quote from a chapter titled “giving,” in which Manning recalls Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree, a story about the relationship a boy has with a life-giving tree and his return to that tree in old age after leaving it for the pleasures of the world:

“Ever since hearing that story many years ago, I’ve loved Silverstein’s parable. It reminds me of Jesus, of whom Paul wrote in Philippians, “He emptied himself.” He cried from His heart, nails in his hands, and poured out His blood that we might believe His love for us. Significantly, Jesus chose the giving tree, His cross, as the demonstrative sign of His absolutely furious love for men and women. In the words of one early church father: “the mightiest act of love ever to arise from a human soul.”

“How is it that we’ve come to imagine that Christianity consists primarily in what we do for God? How has this come to be the good news of Jesus? Is the kingdom that He proclaimed to be nothing more than a community of men and women who go to church on Sunday, take an annual spiritual retreat, read their Bibles every now and then, vigorously oppose abortion, don’t watch x-rated movies, never use vulgar language, smile a lot, hold doors open for people, root for the favorite team, and get along with everybody? Is this why Jesus went through the bleak and bloody horror of Calvary? Is that why He emerged in shattering glory from the tomb? Is that why He poured out His Holy Spirit on the church? To make nicer men and women with better morals?”

Manning goes on to describe that which Christ did come to make:

” …a community of prophets and professional lovers, men and women who would surrender to the mystery of the fire of the Spirit that burns within, who would live in ever greater fidelity to the omnipresent Word of God, who would enter into the center of it all, the very heart and mystery of Christ, into the center of the flame that consumes, purifies, and sets everything aglow with peace, joy, boldness, and extravagant, furious love.”

Yes, we radical, out-of-the-mainstream followers of Jesus would do well to listen to our elder brother, Brennan Manning. He is a prophet and activist himself who is calling us to rediscover – and rest in – the all-encompassing love of God. The best ministry action and community life cannot sustain us through the fire, and indeed may break us. Only the abiding presence of our mysterious Lord, who pursues us furiously, can.

Action and community are not rendered irrelevant by — but perfected in — the love of God.

Posted at JesusManifesto.com by Steve Holt
Link: http://www.jesusmanifesto.com/2009/05/radicals-resting-in-god%E2%80%99s-fury-brennan-manning%E2%80%99s-the-furious-longing-of-god/

]]> By: bobhyatt http://viralbloggers.com/2009/04/the-furious-longing-of-god-by-brennan-manning/comment-page-1/#comment-143 bobhyatt Fri, 29 May 2009 16:48:25 +0000 http://viralbloggers.com/?p=151#comment-143 Whenever the name of an author appears larger than the title of the book, we're being told something. And that's this: This book is more about the author than the content- the voice rather than the words on the page. That's not always a bad thing- pick up any CS Lewis book and you'll see the name in something like 150pt type and the title in something considerably less. And honestly- it won't matter- it's all the same: good. (Of course, you don't really need the name on the cover- the voice is so distinctive you could tell within a few paragraph who was writing) To a certain extent, that's where Brennan Manning is finding himself. The Furious Longing of God is the latest Brennan Manning book first. It's a book about the love of God second. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but again... Here's what it comes down to: If you love Manning, you'll love this book. Better written and a bit more cohesive than some of his others, it's still vintage Manning. Personal stories interwoven with theological insights- all centered around the love of God. At times overly simplistic, at other times stop-and-ponder deep, it's Manning doing what Manning does- pushing towards a simple just-let-God-love-you kind of faith. Desperately needed for some. But in some ways, as I read, I felt as though I read this before. I'm not saying that if you have read one Manning book you have read them all- but close. His voice and style is so distinctive, and his subject matter so narrow in scope that he runs the risk of leaving readers feeling as though they are reading the same books in different packages. I also found myself thinking: "You know, IMHO, Brennan would benefit from reading someone like John Piper" - a great mental picture, btw. Also, I think Piper would benefit from reading Manning, but that's another post! It's just that in the drive to reduce everything down to "God loves you!" I can't help but feel some important nuances are lost. There's a great, solid, Trinitarian perspective represented in this book, there's much about loving each other because of God's love for us... but I'm left wondering: what does a loving, worshipful response to God look like? Beyond loving others, how do I respond to God's love for me with love for Him? Is God jealous for His own glory at all? Or is He simply all about ME? The big question for me these days: Will the book find its way onto my shelf or be given away/sold? Verdict: On the shelf- but just barely. :) Some links for those who would like to explore further: Buy the book here: Amazon http://www.brennanmanning.com http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLz72f75nyU An awesome Furious Longing book trailer http://www.davidccook.com/catalog/resources/samples/105875.pdf Whenever the name of an author appears larger than the title of the book, we’re being told something. And that’s this: This book is more about the author than the content- the voice rather than the words on the page.

That’s not always a bad thing- pick up any CS Lewis book and you’ll see the name in something like 150pt type and the title in something considerably less. And honestly- it won’t matter- it’s all the same: good. (Of course, you don’t really need the name on the cover- the voice is so distinctive you could tell within a few paragraph who was writing)

To a certain extent, that’s where Brennan Manning is finding himself. The Furious Longing of God is the latest Brennan Manning book first. It’s a book about the love of God second. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but again…

Here’s what it comes down to: If you love Manning, you’ll love this book. Better written and a bit more cohesive than some of his others, it’s still vintage Manning. Personal stories interwoven with theological insights- all centered around the love of God. At times overly simplistic, at other times stop-and-ponder deep, it’s Manning doing what Manning does- pushing towards a simple just-let-God-love-you kind of faith.
Desperately needed for some.

But in some ways, as I read, I felt as though I read this before. I’m not saying that if you have read one Manning book you have read them all- but close. His voice and style is so distinctive, and his subject matter so narrow in scope that he runs the risk of leaving readers feeling as though they are reading the same books in different packages.

I also found myself thinking: “You know, IMHO, Brennan would benefit from reading someone like John Piper” – a great mental picture, btw. Also, I think Piper would benefit from reading Manning, but that’s another post!
It’s just that in the drive to reduce everything down to “God loves you!” I can’t help but feel some important nuances are lost. There’s a great, solid, Trinitarian perspective represented in this book, there’s much about loving each other because of God’s love for us… but I’m left wondering: what does a loving, worshipful response to God look like? Beyond loving others, how do I respond to God’s love for me with love for Him? Is God jealous for His own glory at all? Or is He simply all about ME?

The big question for me these days: Will the book find its way onto my shelf or be given away/sold?

Verdict: On the shelf- but just barely. :)

Some links for those who would like to explore further:

Buy the book here: Amazon

http://www.brennanmanning.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLz72f75nyU An awesome Furious Longing book trailer

http://www.davidccook.com/catalog/resources/samples/105875.pdf

]]> By: mattdabbs http://viralbloggers.com/2009/04/the-furious-longing-of-god-by-brennan-manning/comment-page-1/#comment-142 mattdabbs Fri, 29 May 2009 00:46:11 +0000 http://viralbloggers.com/?p=151#comment-142 I thought I would try a little something different to give you an idea of how good Manning’s new book, The Furious Longing of God, really is. Instead of giving one of those reviews that summarizes the book, gives general impressions and then to help you realize just how much you need this book, I thought it might be more fun to do a review categorized by Koine Greek moods: Indicative – The book was a little hard to get into at first. His style takes some adjusting. My wife read the book as well and had a little difficulty until about the halfway point and then she enjoyed it much better. Manning tends to be a little choppy, the chapters are short and it is a quick read. But if you really digest what is there the read could take much longer as Manning is able to chock more meaning into as few of words as anyone I have read. His message of God’s love and longing for his people is unmistakable and it is difficult to walk away from this read without feeling an inherent sense of self-worth and appreciation for God’s view of us. There are several stories and illustrations from this book that will be with me the rest of my life. What is more, he doesn’t stick with how God views us…he also moves from the response that should elicit in us toward others. Imperative – Go and buy a copy of this book. Read it. Apply it. Live it. Understand God that much more. Subjunctive – You may or may not like the first few chapters of the book due to his style. If you read this book you may want to follow it up by reading Raggamuffin Gospel. That might just be as good of a read as the Furius Longing of God. Optative – May you be blessed by your reading of this book. May you go to the link above and purchase many books from amazon during your visit. This book was good enough that my wife is going to let someone borrow it this Sunday. I think it is going to make the rounds at church. I thought I would try a little something different to give you an idea of how good Manning’s new book, The Furious Longing of God, really is. Instead of giving one of those reviews that summarizes the book, gives general impressions and then to help you realize just how much you need this book, I thought it might be more fun to do a review categorized by Koine Greek moods:

Indicative – The book was a little hard to get into at first. His style takes some adjusting. My wife read the book as well and had a little difficulty until about the halfway point and then she enjoyed it much better. Manning tends to be a little choppy, the chapters are short and it is a quick read. But if you really digest what is there the read could take much longer as Manning is able to chock more meaning into as few of words as anyone I have read. His message of God’s love and longing for his people is unmistakable and it is difficult to walk away from this read without feeling an inherent sense of self-worth and appreciation for God’s view of us. There are several stories and illustrations from this book that will be with me the rest of my life. What is more, he doesn’t stick with how God views us…he also moves from the response that should elicit in us toward others.

Imperative – Go and buy a copy of this book. Read it. Apply it. Live it. Understand God that much more.

Subjunctive – You may or may not like the first few chapters of the book due to his style. If you read this book you may want to follow it up by reading Raggamuffin Gospel. That might just be as good of a read as the Furius Longing of God.

Optative – May you be blessed by your reading of this book. May you go to the link above and purchase many books from amazon during your visit.

This book was good enough that my wife is going to let someone borrow it this Sunday. I think it is going to make the rounds at church.

]]> By: Blue Like Elvis http://viralbloggers.com/2009/04/the-furious-longing-of-god-by-brennan-manning/comment-page-1/#comment-117 Blue Like Elvis Fri, 22 May 2009 00:25:03 +0000 http://viralbloggers.com/?p=151#comment-117 Brennan Manning is loved by many for his book The Ragamuffin Gospel. I was not a huge fan of Ragamuffin nor The Furious Longing of God. Manning is a master of images. The image he paints in Furious Longing of a small ship striving to the shore in the midst of a storm is a beautiful portrayal of God striving after his creation. I love the image. Yet, Manning never moves deeper than images and anecdotes. Don't get me wrong, the images are beautiful and the anecdotes are inspiring. I simply feel that the book market is flooded with such writing. Christian book stores need more depth. Our churches need more depth. This book provides for great devotional reading. I read it a chapter at a time each morning, though the book is small and could be read in simply a few sittings. Those looking for an inspirational short story will find many in this work. Those looking to set sail and wade through the waters of the furious longing of God will walking away wanting more. On the other hand, that may be a good thing... Brennan Manning is loved by many for his book The Ragamuffin Gospel. I was not a huge fan of Ragamuffin nor The Furious Longing of God. Manning is a master of images. The image he paints in Furious Longing of a small ship striving to the shore in the midst of a storm is a beautiful portrayal of God striving after his creation. I love the image.

Yet, Manning never moves deeper than images and anecdotes. Don’t get me wrong, the images are beautiful and the anecdotes are inspiring. I simply feel that the book market is flooded with such writing. Christian book stores need more depth. Our churches need more depth.

This book provides for great devotional reading. I read it a chapter at a time each morning, though the book is small and could be read in simply a few sittings. Those looking for an inspirational short story will find many in this work. Those looking to set sail and wade through the waters of the furious longing of God will walking away wanting more. On the other hand, that may be a good thing…

]]> By: Blue Like Elvis http://viralbloggers.com/2009/04/the-furious-longing-of-god-by-brennan-manning/comment-page-1/#comment-116 Blue Like Elvis Fri, 22 May 2009 00:22:13 +0000 http://viralbloggers.com/?p=151#comment-116 Brennan Manning is loved by many for his book The Ragamuffin Gospel. I was not a huge fan of Ragamuffin nor The Furious Longing of God. Manning is a master of images. The image he paints in Furious Longing of a small ship striving to the shore in the midst of a storm is beautiful portrayal of God striving after his creation. I love the image. Yet, Manning never moves deeper than images and anecdotes. Don't get me wrong, the images are beautiful and the anecdotes are inspiring. I simply feel that the book market is flooded with such writing. Christian book stores need more depth. Our churches need more depth. This book provides for great devotional reading. I read it a chapter at a time each morning, though the book is small and could be read in a simply a few sittings. Those looking for an inspirational short story will find many in this work. Those looking to set sail and wade through the waters of the furious longing of God will walking away wanting more. One the other hand, that may be a good thing... Brennan Manning is loved by many for his book The Ragamuffin Gospel. I was not a huge fan of Ragamuffin nor The Furious Longing of God. Manning is a master of images. The image he paints in Furious Longing of a small ship striving to the shore in the midst of a storm is beautiful portrayal of God striving after his creation. I love the image.

Yet, Manning never moves deeper than images and anecdotes. Don’t get me wrong, the images are beautiful and the anecdotes are inspiring. I simply feel that the book market is flooded with such writing. Christian book stores need more depth. Our churches need more depth.

This book provides for great devotional reading. I read it a chapter at a time each morning, though the book is small and could be read in a simply a few sittings. Those looking for an inspirational short story will find many in this work. Those looking to set sail and wade through the waters of the furious longing of God will walking away wanting more. One the other hand, that may be a good thing…

]]> By: Tim http://viralbloggers.com/2009/04/the-furious-longing-of-god-by-brennan-manning/comment-page-1/#comment-115 Tim Thu, 21 May 2009 19:48:09 +0000 http://viralbloggers.com/?p=151#comment-115 Exactly at the midpoint of Brennan Manning’s book come these words: Until the love of God that knows no boundary, limit, or breaking point is internalized through personal decision; until the furious longing of God seizes the imagination; until the heart is conjoined to the mind through sheer grace, nothing happens. Nothing happens. Nothing that matters happens in you. Nothing that matters happens through you. Nothing happens to transform you, to heal you, to wake you up to the dawn of the life God has in store for you. Brennan Manning wants something to happen. Brennan Manning wants something to happen for you. And so he pulls out all the stops -- emotional, rhetorical, poetic -- to push you and prod you and upset you and compel you to open your eyes and heart and soul to see the love, the real and powerful and vibrant and furiously intense love, God has for you. But that’s not quite right. It is God that wants something to happen in you! Brennan is merely trying to serve as the messenger, to point, to reveal, to pull back the curtain, to try to express what cannot be rightly expressed, but to hint at it poignantly enough to bring us to look for ourselves. If the book has a fault, it is that sometimes Manning’s “cuteness,” his toying with language to try to stretch it to say what cannot be said, his use of stories about himself which are mostly rather unflattering, sometimes get in the way and may be distracting, making us think about him instead of the One to whom he points. And, yet, I cannot really fault him for the way he has done the book. You can’t get at personal relationship impersonally. You cannot hint at, point at, the transforming love of God by being scholarly. You have to get personal. You have to be, not just the teacher, but the messenger, the one who can say, “Can you see what I see?” The book is not scholarly, not an essay or a treatise, but more a collection of reflections and meditations and prayers and poems. I did appreciate, however, Manning frequent use of quotations from other authors, from other Christians, from other pilgrims. One of my favorites was this ironic observation from Gerald May: The entire process (of self-development) can be very exciting and entertaining. But the problem is there’s no end to it. The fantasy is that if one heads in the right direction and just works hard enough to learn new things and grows enough and gets actualized, one will be there. None of us is quite certain exactly where there is, but it obviously has something to do with resting. And then there are the lines from Rich Mullins’ song, The Love of God, one of the sources for the title of Manning’s book: In the reckless, raging fury that they call the love of God. That is the relentless refrain of this book: open yourself to the love of God for you! The essence of our faith is not about what we can do for God, but about what God has done, what God is doing for us. It is a book about God, a book that hopes to lead you, the reader, into God’s embrace, a book that urges you and entices you, not to know about God, but to know God. It is there, in the embrace of God’s love, that our wounds are healed, and it is there that we may become healers, instruments of God’s peace ... which is our intended vocation! Exactly at the midpoint of Brennan Manning’s book come these words:

Until the love of God that knows no boundary, limit, or breaking point is internalized through personal decision; until the furious longing of God seizes the imagination; until the heart is conjoined to the mind through sheer grace, nothing happens.

Nothing happens. Nothing that matters happens in you. Nothing that matters happens through you. Nothing happens to transform you, to heal you, to wake you up to the dawn of the life God has in store for you.

Brennan Manning wants something to happen. Brennan Manning wants something to happen for you. And so he pulls out all the stops — emotional, rhetorical, poetic — to push you and prod you and upset you and compel you to open your eyes and heart and soul to see the love, the real and powerful and vibrant and furiously intense love, God has for you.

But that’s not quite right. It is God that wants something to happen in you! Brennan is merely trying to serve as the messenger, to point, to reveal, to pull back the curtain, to try to express what cannot be rightly expressed, but to hint at it poignantly enough to bring us to look for ourselves.

If the book has a fault, it is that sometimes Manning’s “cuteness,” his toying with language to try to stretch it to say what cannot be said, his use of stories about himself which are mostly rather unflattering, sometimes get in the way and may be distracting, making us think about him instead of the One to whom he points.

And, yet, I cannot really fault him for the way he has done the book. You can’t get at personal relationship impersonally. You cannot hint at, point at, the transforming love of God by being scholarly. You have to get personal. You have to be, not just the teacher, but the messenger, the one who can say, “Can you see what I see?”

The book is not scholarly, not an essay or a treatise, but more a collection of reflections and meditations and prayers and poems. I did appreciate, however, Manning frequent use of quotations from other authors, from other Christians, from other pilgrims. One of my favorites was this ironic observation from Gerald May:

The entire process (of self-development) can be very exciting and entertaining. But the problem is there’s no end to it. The fantasy is that if one heads in the right direction and just works hard enough to learn new things and grows enough and gets actualized, one will be there. None of us is quite certain exactly where there is, but it obviously has something to do with resting.

And then there are the lines from Rich Mullins’ song, The Love of God, one of the sources for the title of Manning’s book:

In the reckless, raging fury
that they call the love of God.

That is the relentless refrain of this book: open yourself to the love of God for you! The essence of our faith is not about what we can do for God, but about what God has done, what God is doing for us. It is a book about God, a book that hopes to lead you, the reader, into God’s embrace, a book that urges you and entices you, not to know about God, but to know God.

It is there, in the embrace of God’s love, that our wounds are healed, and it is there that we may become healers, instruments of God’s peace … which is our intended vocation!

]]> By: toddhiestand http://viralbloggers.com/2009/04/the-furious-longing-of-god-by-brennan-manning/comment-page-1/#comment-113 toddhiestand Thu, 21 May 2009 17:46:34 +0000 http://viralbloggers.com/?p=151#comment-113 I'm almost embrassed to say that I have never actually read a book by Brennan Manning. From what I gather a lot of his books are the same lyrics but just to a different tune. If that's true, its just fine with me because he's writing about something that seeminly takes a lifetime to grasp. And, if I can summarize this book in one sentance, its this: God loves you like crazy. To me, that's one message that we just can't hear enough and can't be reminded of enough. Someone, i forget who, once said that "Sometimes we need to be reminded more than we need to be instructed." Brennan Manning seems to take this advice and I'm thankful. God. Loves. You. Like. Crazy. We'd do well to let this messages sit with us every morning for the rest of our lives. Not suprisingly, Manning alludes to the fact that many people who give him a hard time for talking about God's love too much. I guess i understand where they are coming from (maybe) but man, can we really talk too much of God's love? When it comes down to it, this is a good book for what Manning intended it for. I don't think he was writing a comprehensive theological treatise on the love of God. I think he's trying to write something that makes you begin all over again to come to terms with the fact that God love you like crazy. if that was really his goal, i think he did well. I'm happy to suggest this book to people who are having a hard time wrapping their minds around God's unbelievable love for them. I’m almost embrassed to say that I have never actually read a book by Brennan Manning. From what I gather a lot of his books are the same lyrics but just to a different tune. If that’s true, its just fine with me because he’s writing about something that seeminly takes a lifetime to grasp. And, if I can summarize this book in one sentance, its this:

God loves you like crazy.

To me, that’s one message that we just can’t hear enough and can’t be reminded of enough. Someone, i forget who, once said that “Sometimes we need to be reminded more than we need to be instructed.” Brennan Manning seems to take this advice and I’m thankful.

God. Loves. You. Like. Crazy.

We’d do well to let this messages sit with us every morning for the rest of our lives. Not suprisingly, Manning alludes to the fact that many people who give him a hard time for talking about God’s love too much. I guess i understand where they are coming from (maybe) but man, can we really talk too much of God’s love?

When it comes down to it, this is a good book for what Manning intended it for. I don’t think he was writing a comprehensive theological treatise on the love of God. I think he’s trying to write something that makes you begin all over again to come to terms with the fact that God love you like crazy.

if that was really his goal, i think he did well.

I’m happy to suggest this book to people who are having a hard time wrapping their minds around God’s unbelievable love for them.

]]> By: chadbrooks http://viralbloggers.com/2009/04/the-furious-longing-of-god-by-brennan-manning/comment-page-1/#comment-110 chadbrooks Wed, 20 May 2009 20:16:01 +0000 http://viralbloggers.com/?p=151#comment-110 Reading a Brennan Manning book always leaves me with the same feeling. I can sequence events in my life according to either his writing, or people he has deeply influenced. While at first this seems somewhat biased to be a review, give me a little while. The furious longing of God tackles the issue that every (that I have read) Manning book does...the issue of people not realizing the love of God and the life that they are “called” too. The book glorifies the downtrodden and points people towards a life of radicial love through simply, short chapters that can easily be read. It is an accessible book, and the kind you give to people that are in seasons of questioning. The chapters are focused on single ideas and Manning takes good use of situations and life experiences. This allows him to communicate easier. What this book seems to lack is what most of Manning’s books lack...answers. Yes, he answers the deep spiritual questions he poses in his writing, but he doesn’t answer the questions about his own life that appear in my head every time I read him. This is the kind of frustration that makes me still feel good about the book, but I have quit reading his stuff for awhile due to this. This is a good read, but I feel that sometimes Brennan Manning’s books are to short. Great for devotional thought, but I want more. Grace is evident in his writing and I imagine that his lack of depth is because he doesn’t feel it is necessary. I guess this book is like an AC/DC record. It is good, makes me tap my feet, but it is the same record that they have recorded 19 times. It has a good single that will stay around, but besides that it is the same dependable good stuff. I give it a 6 out of 10. Chad Brooks http://www.outsideisbetter.net Reading a Brennan Manning book always leaves me with the same feeling. I can sequence events in my life according to either his writing, or people he has deeply influenced. While at first this seems somewhat biased to be a review, give me a little while.

The furious longing of God tackles the issue that every (that I have read) Manning book does…the issue of people not realizing the love of God and the life that they are “called” too. The book glorifies the downtrodden and points people towards a life of radicial love through simply, short chapters that can easily be read. It is an accessible book, and the kind you give to people that are in seasons of questioning. The chapters are focused on single ideas and Manning takes good use of situations and life experiences. This allows him to communicate easier.

What this book seems to lack is what most of Manning’s books lack…answers. Yes, he answers the deep spiritual questions he poses in his writing, but he doesn’t answer the questions about his own life that appear in my head every time I read him. This is the kind of frustration that makes me still feel good about the book, but I have quit reading his stuff for awhile due to this.

This is a good read, but I feel that sometimes Brennan Manning’s books are to short. Great for devotional thought, but I want more. Grace is evident in his writing and I imagine that his lack of depth is because he doesn’t feel it is necessary.

I guess this book is like an AC/DC record. It is good, makes me tap my feet, but it is the same record that they have recorded 19 times. It has a good single that will stay around, but besides that it is the same dependable good stuff.
I give it a 6 out of 10.

Chad Brooks
http://www.outsideisbetter.net

]]> By: livingboldly http://viralbloggers.com/2009/04/the-furious-longing-of-god-by-brennan-manning/comment-page-1/#comment-101 livingboldly Sat, 16 May 2009 18:54:42 +0000 http://viralbloggers.com/?p=151#comment-101 So recently I received the book, “the furious longing of God” by Brennan Manning and I began reading it late one night and found that I was at once annoyed and intrigued. As I started the book I kept asking, “Wow, this author sure does talk about himself a lot – did I misread the cover and this is really an autobiography of sorts?” I think the pronoun “I” was jumping off the page so much to me that I was being distracted from what he was truly pointing to – the furious loving of God. But I kept plodding along thinking I will catch on soon, I will find my way into this conversation. And then it happened. Manning is telling the story of a woman who is dying of leprosy named Yolanda. Yolanda is so happy when he comes to visit her and he can’t comprehend why, after all she is sick and dying of this wretched disease. So Manning asks her and she tells him that her Abba has told her that she will be taken home today. I was crying but then the tears became tears of joy because Yolanda understood the simple yet amazing truth – God’s love. It took the simple story of a profound moment in one woman’s life (and in Manning’s life) to help me to grasp the fullness of that which is ungraspable. God’s enormous, gigantic, swirling, moving, life-changing, furious love. As Manning continues this is the center of all that he is proclaiming. The simplicity of this one truth is so moving that his writing moves in a similar frenetic, all but senseless flow from one story to another. And I, the one who values order and simplicity, was lost until I allowed the fury to take me up into the movement. I had to give up control to hear the proclamation that Manning has given his life to – God is love and if longing for each of us, all of us to be caught up in this moving, furious experience that is the love of God. So recently I received the book, “the furious longing of God” by Brennan Manning and I began reading it late one night and found that I was at once annoyed and intrigued. As I started the book I kept asking, “Wow, this author sure does talk about himself a lot – did I misread the cover and this is really an autobiography of sorts?” I think the pronoun “I” was jumping off the page so much to me that I was being distracted from what he was truly pointing to – the furious loving of God.

But I kept plodding along thinking I will catch on soon, I will find my way into this conversation. And then it happened. Manning is telling the story of a woman who is dying of leprosy named Yolanda. Yolanda is so happy when he comes to visit her and he can’t comprehend why, after all she is sick and dying of this wretched disease. So Manning asks her and she tells him that her Abba has told her that she will be taken home today. I was crying but then the tears became tears of joy because Yolanda understood the simple yet amazing truth – God’s love.

It took the simple story of a profound moment in one woman’s life (and in Manning’s life) to help me to grasp the fullness of that which is ungraspable. God’s enormous, gigantic, swirling, moving, life-changing, furious love. As Manning continues this is the center of all that he is proclaiming. The simplicity of this one truth is so moving that his writing moves in a similar frenetic, all but senseless flow from one story to another. And I, the one who values order and simplicity, was lost until I allowed the fury to take me up into the movement. I had to give up control to hear the proclamation that Manning has given his life to – God is love and if longing for each of us, all of us to be caught up in this moving, furious experience that is the love of God.

]]>