Another 'feature' I plan to continue on this blog is 'Recommended Reading', in which I'll mention a book I'm currently reading or have previously read, including a little taste of what it's about.
Right now I'm about halfway through Brennan Manning's latest, 'The Furious Longing of God'. I've been a fan of Manning's books for some time, for their eloquent language, powerful testimony and inspiring thoughts on the love of God for us. This one is no exception! In fact, our Life Group may very well be reading through it together in our next session...
In it, Manning shares that "the Jesus I met in the grounds of my own self, has furiously loved me regardless of my state -- grace or disgrace. And why? 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"
Manning may challenge you, offend you, frustrate and confuse you at times, but without a doubt he is a man who has learned much about God's love and I recommend this read for anyone!
Challenging is an understatement. His eloquent language and use of words that I never knew existed has positioned me in a daze as I contemplate God's love for me and Manning's use of linguistic rhetoric. I have received an abundance of paper cuts as I turn the pages in haste throughout my dictionary, furiously longing for the definition of a word or prepositional phrase that Manning uses, as if I have an inkling of its definition or that it's use is recurrent in common speech between friends and acquaintances.
ReplyDeleteAs I am half way through with this book I have noticed new insights into God's love, learned different ways of explaining God's simple truth, and enjoyed the reality that God loves me regardless of my performance. What an amazing truth to apply to the lives of pastors and leaders in the church!