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!